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UNITED STATES OF AMEBiCA. ) 



I 



i 



LETTERS 



OF 



ISAAC PENINGTON, 



AN 



EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSP] 



m 



THE SOCIETY OF FEIENDS, 



WHICH HE JOINED ABOUT THE TEAR 1658. 



From the Second London Edition, 



PHILADELPHIA : 
FOR SALE AT FRIENDS' BOOK-STORE, 

No. 304 ARCH STREET, 




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'^i~•^,^^ 
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PREFACE TO THE LONDON EDITION. 



THE editor of the present volume, having been much 
instructed in perusing " Letters of Isaac Penington," 
&c., (published in the year 1796, by John Kendall of Col- 
chester, and now, for a considerable time out of print,) 
was induced to turn his attention towards reviving them. 
In this object he was further encouraged, by the circum- 
stance of having access to a large number of manuscript 
letters of the same author, some of which were originals. 

When the greater part of the materials now before the 
reader were nearly prepared for the press, it was ascer- 
tained, that the work above mentioned was compiled from 
an extensive collection of Isaac Penington's papers in the 
possession of John Kendall, which he eventually presented 
to the Society of Friends. This important document 
(copied with much assiduity and care by the son of I. P.) 
has been by permission examined ; and those letters of the 
former publication, which axe retained in the ensuing, 
(thirty-three in number,) have been revised and corrected 
by it; a few others being introduced from the same source. 
It will also be proper here to state, that slight verbal 
alterations, not affecting the sense of the author, have been 
adopted, where perspicuity seemed to require ; and that 
some portions of the letters have been occasionally ex- 
cluded, when they appeared to bear too close a resemblance 
to other passages, or to be adapted rather to the circum- 
stances of those times than the present. 



iv PREFACE. 

On producing from obscurity these valuable records, for 
the perusal of the Society of Friends and others, the editor 
cannot well refrain from stating, that his concern and in- 
tention has been, to promote, if it be ever so feebly, the 
spiritual edification, harmony, and enlargement of our 
Divine Redeemer's Church Universal ; his desires having 
been much in unison with the expressions of the apostle 
Paul, — that, " speaking the truth in love," we may "grow 
up iiito Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ." 
For we are further assured, it is from Him alone, that 
" the whole body " can be " fitly joined together, and com- 
pacted by that whif^h every joint supplieth, according to 
the effectual working in the measure of every part," and 
thus be known an " increase of the body, unto the edifying 
of itself in love." Ephes. iv. 15, 16. The very weighty 
and confirming character of these letters, their quicken- 
ing tendency, — the clear doctrine, and deep experience 
throughout evinced, must, it is apprehended, if perused 
with desires after spiritual good, prove salutary in various 
ways to most classes and states of Christian believers. 
They are not the product of a speculative imagination or 
of uncertain reasonings ; they comprehend many of the 
plain positions of Scriptural faith and practice, conveyed 
in simple but forcible, nay, pathetic appeals ; indeed, they 
are evidently dictated under a very deep sense of the ines- 
timable value of heavenly things, refined and proved by 
no ordinary exercises of spirit, as well as by manifold out- 
ward sufferings. 

And here, it may with deference be suggested, that this 
particular description of ministerial communication, (for 
such it is,) will be likely to prove more beneficial, if but 
a few, or even a single letter be read at one time, and a 
suflicient interval be allowed for the mind to reflect on 



PREFACE. V 

and appropriate their contents. In order to this, and with 
a view that the reader may be in some degree apprized of 
the topics before him, the editor has attempted, (however 
imperfectly,) at the head of each letter, and in the Table 
of Contents, to give some brief account of the subjects 
of it; the advantages of which plan will, he trusts, be 
evident. 

To the Society of Friends, it is presumed, little need be 
said by way of information respecting the author of these 
letters — his life, character, sufferings for the testimony of 
a good conscience, or services in the church of Christ. 
Such readers as have not had the privilege of access to 
his collected works, of which there have been several 
editions, may be referred to his "Life," &c. by Joseph 
Gurney Bevan ; wherein, besides a detailed and interest- 
ing memoir, they will find extracts from his writings. 
Our historian, Gough, has also given a biographical sketch 
■ of him. It may, however, still be desirable to insert some 
particulars of this excellent man ; that, in conjunction 
with these specimens of his labours of love, may be held up 
to view his lively, consistent, and blessed example. This 
Preface shall therefore be followed by a brief notice of 
Isaac Penington, being, with some slight variations, the 
testimony of his contemporary, William Penn. 

John Barclay. 
Alton, Fifth Month, 1828. 
1* 



TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN, CONCERN- 
ING ISAAC PENINGTON. 



AS * the memory of the just is blessed,' so to me there 
seems a blessing upon those, that have a right remem- 
brance of them ; wherefore, to the memory of this just 
man, my dear Friend and relation, Isaac Penington, I do, 
with a sincere and religious affection, dedicate this ensu- 
ing testimony. 

" He was well descended as to his worldly parentage,* 
and born about the year 1617, being heir to a fair inherit- 
ance ; his education was suitable to his quality among 
men, havino^ all the advantao^es the schools and uuiyersi- 
ties of his own country could give, joined with the con- 
versation of some of the most knowing and considerable - 
men of that time. His natural abilities, the gifts of his 
Creator, excelled ; he was a n:a:i quick in apprehension, 
fruitful in conception, of a lively wit and intelligence, but 
adorned with an extraordinary mildness and engaging 
sweetness of disposition. 

"His father's station in public business, gave him pre- 
tensions enough to share of this world's greatness ; but he, 
with blessed meek Moses, refused the Egy23tian glory of 
it, and chose rather a life ^dedicated to an inquiry after 
God, and holy fellowship with him and his despised 
Israel. 

" Very early did the Lord visit him, with more than 
ordinary manifestations of His love ; and it had such an 

* He was the ekiest son of Isaac Penington, of London, many 
years an Alderman, and for two years successively Mayor of the 
city, also a noted Member of the Long Parliament. 

vi 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. Vll 

eflfect upon him, that it kept him both from the evils and 
vain worships of the world ; he became the tvonder of his 
kindred and familiars, for his awful life and serious fre- 
quent retirements, declining all company that might inter- 
rupt his meditations : by thus giving himself over to a life 
of mourning and pilgrimage, he was as unpleasant to those 
of the world, as they were to him. Nor did this sorrow 
flow from a sense of former vice, for he Avas virtuous from 
his childhood : but, with holy Habakkuk, from the dread 
he had of the majesty of God, and his desire to find a 
resting-place in the great day of trouble. Nothing in these 
exercises gave him ease or comfort, but the smiles of God's 
countenance upon his soul, and that he thirsted after with 
a continual solicitation; first, 'How shall I appear?' and 
then, ' O that I may appear before God ! ' 

"His inward exercises and enjoyments being of a very 
peculiar nature, made him take little comfort in any of 
the religious societies then known to him. He was as 
one alone ; for he saw so much of that uncircumcised and 
uncrucified flesh, which is as grass, professing the myste- 
ries of the heavenly kingdom ; — I mean, people under 
but ordinary convictions, who had never known Jacob's 
troubles, nor the fear and trembling with which salvation 
is to be wrought out ; — and that, in religious duties, the 
spirit and abilities of man took up so great a share among 
them, and the Spirit of the Lord so little. With such he 
was often burdened, and pressed in spirit to lay open their 
carnal state under a Christian profession. For, though 
they held the notions of Truth, it was not in the precious 
experimental sense of the holy virtue and life of it ; inso- 
much, that he found it his duty to endeavour to break their 
false peace, and bewilder their lofty wisdom and profes- 
sion : rather approving of a state of humble doubting, than 
hypocritical confidence. For, the Lord's coming in spirit, 
without sin, to the salvation of the soul, is to be waited 



Vlll LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

for ; that people may truly know him and his work, and, 
from thence, speak forth his praise to others ; rather than 
profess the enjoyments of other saints, which have been 
obtained through great tribulation, while they have never 
known this in themselves, and so, can have no true sense 
of an acceptable sacrifice of God's preparing. 

" Such views drew reproach upon him from the worldly 
professors, as a man singular and censorious ; yet those 
who with him waited for the consolation of Israel, and the 
coming of the Son of man in power and great glory, found 
him out, valued and honoured him ; and sweet was their 
fellowship to him, who boasted in nothing more, than that 
they had nothing to boast of, while the Laodicea of their 
age thought she wanted nothing. In that emptiness, they 
waited to be filled of Him, who filleth all things at his 
coming and kingdom, that they might be the witnesses of 
his resurrection and appearance. Some of them died be- 
fore that blessed time came ; some saw it, and were glad, 
and with good old Simeon departed in peace ; others lived 
to see that blessed day both dawn and break forth upon 
them, to their admiration and comfort ; among whom, my 
dear father-in-law, Isaac Penington, was not the last, nor 
the least of note. 

" About the year 1657, it pleased the Lord to send him 
a Peter, to declare to him, that a time of pouring forth of 
the Holy Spirit, and breaking forth of a heavenly work of 
God in the souls of men and women, was come ; and many 
Aquilas and Priscillas came after, who instructed him in 
the way of God more perfectly. Though he was advanced 
above many in his knowledge of Scripture, and had form- 
erly received many heavenly openings of Truth's myste- 
ries ; yet, did the Lord's way of appearance disappoint his 
expectation. And when the light broke forth in his heart, 
which his sincerity longed for, he found in himself a great 
mixture ; and that he had much to lose and part with, 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTO :N-. IX 

before he could become that blessed little child, that new 
and heavenly birth, which inherits the kingdom of God : 
this, indeed, made him cry, ' Narrow is the way, and strait 
is the gate that leads to life/ 

" But, to the glory of the living God, and praise of this 
just man's memory, let me say, — neither his worldly sta- 
tion, (the most considerable of any, that had closed in with 
his way of religion,) nor the contradictions it gave to his 
former conceptions, nor the debasement it brought upon 
his learning and wisdom, nor yet that reproach and loss 
which attended his public espousal of it, did deter him 
from embracing it. With an humble and broken spirit, 
he fell before this holy appearance of Jesus, — that true 
Light of men whose power and life he felt revealed within 
him, to the saving of his soul ; and boldly confessed this 
spiritual coming of the great Messiah, who was able to 
teach him all things ; to His name his knee truly bowed, 
and with Nathaniel he could cry, * Thou art the Son of 
God, thou art the King of Israel/ Now, he saw clearly 
between the precious and the vile in himself, between that 
which was truly of God, in his former exercises, and that 
which was merely of man : he was not stiff nor stout in de- 
fence of his own building, and former apprehensions ; no, 
but sold all for the * pearl of great price,' and became 
willingly ' poor in spirit,' that he might enter * the king- 
dom of God/ Thus, parting with all he had not received 
of God, he received a new stock from heaven, wherein the 
Lord prospered him ; the dew of heaven rested upon his 
branch and root, he grew rich and fruitful in all heavenly 
treasure; full of love, faith, mercy, patience, and long- 
suffering ; diligent in the work of the Lord, and his duty 
to God and men. Insomuch, that I may say, he was one 
of a thousand ; zealous, yet tender ; wise, yet humble ; a 
constant and early attendant at meetings, watchful and 
reverent in them ; one that ever loved power and life, more 



X LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

than words ; and, as it was for that he waited, so would he 
be often deeply affected with it, — even, enabled to utter such 
testimonies, as were greatly to the help of the poor and 
needy, the weary and the heavy-laden, the true sojourners 
and travellers to eternal rest. To this, his writings as 
well as ministry tended ; wherein, it will be easy for the 
reader to observe, his peculiar and mighty love to the 
great professors of religion in these kingdoms ; whom 
carnal apprehensions or unjust prejudices, have hindered 
from closing with the blessed Truth, as it is known and 
felt among us. His fervent labour to remove these ob- 
structions, was with such tenderness, yet great clearness, 
that I may venture to style him their apostle ; for, as in 
almost every meeting, so in every book, the bent of his 
spirit was towards them : — that those who made a more 
than ordinary profession of God, — not without some an- 
cient touches of the divine grace, and experience of his 
heavenly visitation, (though much extinguished by human 
and worldly mixtures,) — might come to know what that 
was they once tasted of, how they lost it, and which is the 
way to recover the living and full enjoyment of it, — even, 
the inward knockings and appearance of Jesus, the Sa- 
viour, to the salvation of their souls. I j)ray God, they 
may answer his love ; for, he was much spent on their ac- 
count ; that so his ministry, writings, travels, and tears, 
may not be matter of charge and evidence against them 
in the day of judgment.* 

* Some account of his sufferings is here added, given by Thomas 
Ell wood, who was well acquainted with him. "And, as it was 
given him to believe in Christ, so he had also to suffer for his sake; 
his imprisonments being many, and some of them long ; which he 
underwent with great constancy and quietness of mind. He was 
first imprisoned in the year 1661, in Aylesbury Gaol, for worship- 
ping God in his own house ; and endured great hardships for seven- 
teen weeks, in a cold, incommodious room, without a chimney, great 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. XI 

"As his outward man grew in age, l.is inward man 
grew in grace, and in the knowledge of our dear Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ, for the excellency of which, he had 
justly counted all things else but as dross and dung. 
For it was observable, among them that rightly knew him 
in his declining time, when the candle of his. natural life 
burnt more dim, his soul w^axed stronger, and, like a re- 
plenished lamp, shined with greater lustre ; and truly, he 
had a double portion of the Spirit upon him, being 
anointed with judgment and zeal for the Lord, which ap- 
peared in two eminent respects. 

" First, he was very urgent, that all those who knew any 
thing of the heavenly gift of ministry to others, would 
always wait in their several exercises, to be endued with 
matter and power from on high, before they opened their 
mouths in a testimoi.j for the Lord. And that, at all 
times, as well out oi r .^e tings as in them, they might live 
so near the Lord, a^ f feel the key of David opening the 
mysteries of the nea <mij kingdom ; and, by experiencing 
the depth of thr-, h ^avenly travail, and the trials, deliver- 
ances, and con? stations of it, — with that dominion and 
victory that, 'a the end, by perseverance is obtained, — 
they might ^e as true saviours on mount Zion, the salt and 
lights of the world, thoroughly furnished unto every good 
word and work, and master builders in God's house : — 
that a pure and living stream of ministry, might be con- 
tinued and conveyed to the generations to come, — that 
they might not only hear, but taste of what we have 



part of the time in winter ; from which usage, his body contracted 
so great a disorder, that, for several weeks, he was not able to turn 
himself in his bed. He was imprisoned five times after this, on 
account of his religious profession ; and being of a tender constitu- 
tion, was in danger of losing his life from the hardship he endured. 
Thus, through many tribulations did he enter the kingdom, liaving 
been long exercised, tried, and approved of the Lord." 



Xii LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

known of the Word of life and work of redemption in our 
age. 

** But, his excellency in the second respect, was his fer- 
vent love to the heavenly union of brethren ; whatever 
struck at that, though under ever such specious pretences, 
he no sooner perceived, however subtle the mischievous 
^vorkings thereof, than with deep Avisdom he detected, and 
with his whole might opposed it. For, though by nature 
he was long sufiering, to a degree of letting his mercy to 
others, almost wound his own soul ; yet, so deeply did his 
love to the Lord and his people, and to that comely order 
in which God had settled them, engage his soul ; that he 
was bold as a lion, yea, warlike as a champion against 
that spirit, that went up and down to sow jealousies, to 
smite and reflect upon the holy care of the brethren, 
interpreting their tender love and great pains, as if what 
was done by them were not intended for the edification of 
the body, but for the exaltation of some particular per- 
sons over it. This ingratitude and injustice his soul ab- 
horred, and often he mourned for such as were so seduced ; 
as if it were the design of those, that had from the begin- 
ning laid themselves out in the service of God and his. 
people, to bring them at last to a blind and unwarrantable 
subjection, that they themselves might the better exercise 
dominion over them. This evil eye he helped to put out; 
and, in his opposition to this wandering and destroying 
spirit, that ever leads out of the love and unity of brethren, 
he approved himself a valiant of Israel, a Phinehas for the 
God of his salvation ; — and the rewards of heaven were 
poured into his bosom ; for his holy ministry manifestly 
increased in life and power, and his peace flowed as a 
river, and many were witnesses of his enlargements. Let 
those that have lost their first love, and are gone from 
their ancient habitation, ' rage, and imagine vain things/ 
if they will ; surely, the travails and testimonies of this 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. XIU 

blessed man will be a witness against them, that will not 
easily be silenced, and a burden upon their backs, that 
will not readily be taken off. Yet, because he desired not 
their destruction, but prayed earnestly to the last for their 
return, let me not, whilst I am writing his character, fall 
short of his compassions : no, I pray God also, with my 
whole spirit, that they may repent, be contrite in heart, 
and faithfully return ; at which, if the angels in heaven 
rejoice, certainly the spirits of the just, that dwell in heav- 
enly places, will abundantly rejoice too. 

" These two cares were chiefly and almost continually 
before him. And as he was, in these respects, a light in 
the church, so he was a blessing to his own family ; a 
loving husband, a very tender and prudent father, a just 
and kind master, — I will add, a good neighbour, and a 
most firm friend : of all unapt to believe ill, never to 
report it, much less to do it to any ; a man that ruled his 
tongue, swift to hear, slow to speak; but when he did 
speak, he was serious, yet sweet, and not uncheerfuL 
What shall I say more ? for great and many were the gifts 
God honoured him with, and with them he truly honoured 
his profession. 

" Being thus fit to live, he was prepared to die, and had 
nothing else to do, when that summons was served upon 
him, which was in the 63d year of his age ; at which time, 
it pleased the Lord, he fell very sick, under a sharp and 
painful distemper, which hastened his dissolution. How- 
ever, to internal peace so well established, the anguish of 
that bitter exercise could give no shock ; for he died, as 
he lived, in the faith that overcomes the world ; whose 
soul, being now released from the confinements of time 
and frailties of mortality, is ascended into the glorious 
freedom and undisturbed joys of the just; where, with his 
holy brethren, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and 
martyrs of Jesus, he forever blesseth and praiseth the God 
2 



XIV LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

and Father of the righteous generations by Jesus Christ, 
God's Lamb, and our heavenly Redeemer — to whom 
with the Father be all honour, glory, might, majesty, and 
dominion, through every age of his church, and forever. 
Amen. 

" William Penn." 
" Westminster, 
" 12th of Twelfth Month, 1680-81." 



CONTENTS. 



Letter Page 

I. On ttie pure, living, spiritual Food. — To the Friends 

at Chalfont in Buckinghamshire . . . .21 

II. Christ the Eoot of all True Religion, &c. — To Thomas 

Walmsley 22 

III. Of a growth in Grace, amidst distressing Exercises of 

Spirit. — To Bridget Atley 25 

IV. On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends . . 27 
V. The Compassions of the Shepherd of the Flock towards 

the Weak, &c. How they should follow Him. — To 

Friends 30 

VI. On Searching for the hidden Treasure, and Selling all 

for it. — To Catherine Pordage 31 

VII. A Christian Salutation. — To Elizabeth Walmslev . 34 
VIII. On Christ being manifested within, and the Sprinkling 

of his Blood inwardly. — To Thomas Walmsley . 35 
IX. The Way of God's Redemption is above the ways of 

Man's Wisdom .36 

X. On the Gospel, and on Preaching it ; also on the Scrip- 
tures, &c 39 

XI. The Duty of being Content with what is made known 41 
XII. Of Faith in the healing Power of Christ . . .42 

XIII. Advice to One respecting the dark Suggestions of the 

Enemy 44 

XIV. On Obedience, spiritual Growth, Establishment, and 

Victory, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ . . 46 
XV. The least Messenger of the Gospel is not to be despised. 

A Change of Heart is to be sought, rather than a Sign 51 

XVI. Advice on Reading the Scriptures 52 

XVII. On the Righteousness which is of Christ. On the Man- 
hood and Godhead of Christ. — To the Friend of 
Francis Fines . . . , . . . .53 

XV 



XVI CONTENTS. 

Letter Page 

XVIII. On the religious Care of Children. — To a Parent 59 
XIX. A Day of Calamity. — To a Friend in London : sup- 
posed to be written on occasion of the Plague . 61 
XX. The spiritual Life is to be cherished. — To Friends 

of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts . . 62 
XXI. On true Judgment, and on Prejudices ; also on the 
variety of Gifts and Stations in the Church. — To 
Friends of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts 64 
XXII. To a Couple about to marry 67 

XXIII. The Day of God's Power and Love.— To John 

Mannock 69 

XXIV. On Simplicity of Faith and Dedication. — To John 

Mannock 73 

XXV. The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's sake. — To 

Elizabeth Walmsley 75 

XXVI. Exhortation, chiefly, on Eev. xiv. 7, " Fear God, give 

glory to Him," &c. — To Widow Hemmings . 78 

XXVII. Advice and Sympathy under Trial. — To Elizabeth 

Walmsley 83 

XXVIII. Of Obedience in confessing Christ ; also on the Light 

of Christ. — To Elizabeth Stonar . . . .84 

XXIX. On the Life, inward Sense, and power of the Spirit; 
also respecting the Scriptures, and the Church, 
&c. — To Nathaniel Stonar .... 86 

XXX. Of Truth in the inward Parts. — To Widow Hem- 
mings . . 91 

XXXI. Deliverance from spiritual Enemies by Christ, &c. ; 

also of Offences . . , . . . .93 

XXXII. Encouragement to Faithfulness under apprehension 

of Sufferings. — To W^idow Hemmings . . 96 

XXXIII. Exhortation relative to the Christian Life and Travel. 

— To Dulcibella Laiton 97 

XXXIV. On Decay of "first Love," and a hardened State 

"through the Deceitfulness of Sin." — To George 
Winkfield 99 



CONTENTS. XVll 

Letter Page 

XXXV. Propositions relating to the Truth and Substance 
of Religion. — To Sir William Drake (so 

styled) 101 

XXXYI. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom. — To S. W. 105 
XXXVII. Comfort and Counsel under Affliction. — To the 

Lady Conway 107 

XXXVIII. On the benefit of Chastening by Afflictions. — To 

the Lady Conway 109 

XXXIX. On being ingrafted into Christ, being preserved 
alive in Him, and growing up in Him in all 

Things. — To S.W 112 

XL. Counsel to One tossed as with Tempests . . 116 
XLI. Encouragement under Trials incident to bearing 

the Cross of Christ 117 

XLII. On being offended with those who fall into Temp- 
tation 118 

XLIII. The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the 

Enemy^s Accusations. — To Widow Hemmings 120 
XLIV. On resisting, and on receiving God's Spirit ; also 
on Eedemption by Christ Jesus. — To Nathaniel 

Stonar , . 122 

XLV. Eespecting some Snares of the Adversary to dis- 
tress the Soul. — To Bridget Atley . . .125 

XLVI. Weighty Counsel. — To Sir William Armorer (so 

styled) 126 

XLVII. On an unfaithful profession of the Truth. — To 

Abraham Grimsden 129 

XL VIII. Christ, the Eesurrection and the Life. On Llis 

Appearance in the Flesh, &c 130 

XLIX. To One who sent a Paper of Richard Baxter's . 132 

L. Of the Gospel State in general, and of the State 

of Believers in particular 133 

LI. On shunning the Cross. — To Catherine Pordage 136 
LII. On Love, Meekness, and watching over each 

other. — To Friends in Amersham . . . 137 

LIII. On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ . . 138 
2* B 



XVIU CONTENTS. 

Letter Page 

LIV. To One under Divine Visitation .... 139 

LV. The Kingdom of God within. Of the new Covenant. 
Professors of the day. Trial of Spirits. Exhor- 
tation to wait for and walk in the Spirit . 140 
LYI. Encom'agement to look up to the Lord, amidst his 

Chasten ings, and the Smitings of the Enemy . 144 
LYII. Of the Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its 

Professors. — To Colonel Kenrick . . . 146 
LVIII. On the Lord's Supper witli Believers. — To Widow 

Hemmings ........ 150 

LIX. Eespecting the Payment of Tithes. — To James Eeles 152 
LX. On Election, and on Falling Away. Of our own 
Righteousness, and of Christ's in us. — To Ruth 

Palm r 154 

LXI. To his Brother Arthur, who became a Roman 

Catholic 159 

LXIL Respecting his Brother, a Roman Catholic. — To 

Joseph AYriglit 163 

LXIIL On Baptism by Water. — To William Rolls . . 165 
LXIY. On unreserved Obedience. — To Bridget Atley . 166 
LXV. To the Poor among Friends, who are relieved by the 
Charity and bowels of Love, which God opens in 
other Friends towards them . . . .168 

LXVI. Afflictions may work out a weight of Glory. — For 

Friends in Scotland ...... 170 

LXVII. Against Earthly Reasonings and Expectations. — 

To Sarah Bond 172 

LXVIII. An Livitation to Heavenly Substance . . . 175 
LXIX. Exhortation to walk in the Truth. — To Friends at 

Lewes 177 

LXX. Consolation for a Mother on the Death of her Child. 

— To Sarah Elgar . . *. . . .178 

LXXL Advice respecting Church Discipline. — To the 

Women's Meeting of Friends, at John Mannock's 179 

LXXII. On Prayer in Families, &c. Also on the State of 

Professors of the Day 182 



CONTENTS. XIX 

Letter Page 

LXXIII. Of Preservation and a Growtli in the Heavenly 
Life; its power over the Earthly Nature. — 
To Friends in and about the two Chalfonts . 185 

LXXIV. The Holy Scriptures not the Priraary Buie. — 

To Nathaniel Stonar . . ' . . .190 
LXXV. On true, living, heavenly Knowledge. — To the 

Lady Conway 193 

LXXVI. On Disputation ; and on hearing Wisdom's voice. 
Also respecting the Puritan State. — To E. 

Terry 19^ 

LXXVII. Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the 
Spirit. The younger are to submit to the 
Elder. — To Miles Stanclif . . . . 198 

LXXYIII. The Loving-kindness of the Lord. — To Eliza- 
beth Walmsley . . . . . .200 

LXXIX. On Confessing Christ before Men, &c. — To Eliza- 
beth Stonar .201 

LXXX. Observations on the Ministry. — To a near Rela- 
tive 206 

LXXXI. Of Love, Humility, and Order among Friends. 

Also of Persecution. — To a near Relative . 208 
LXXXII. Danger of Self-complacency. — To Catlierine 

Pordage 212 

LXXXIII. Against Self-exaltation; and on the Cross of our 

Lord Jesus Christ. — To Catherine Pordage . 214 
LXXXiy. To such as Drink of the Waters at Astrop 

Wells 217 

LXXXV. To One who sent a Message to him from Astrop 

Wells 219 

LXXXVI. Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood. — To 

Richard Roberts 221 

LXXXVII. Postscript to some Considerations respecting the 
Gospel Church. — Addressed to the Indepen- 
dents at Canterbury 222 

LXXXVIII. The Way to Life narrow ; hard things made easy 
to the Obedient. Also some Answers to Objec- 
tions on Prayer, &c. — To Catherine Pordage 225 



XX CONTENTS. 

Letter Page 

LXXXIX. The Scriptures exceedingly precious. The Gospel 
a Ministration of the Spirit of Life in Christ 
Jesus. The Liability of losing the Sense and 

Savour of this 230 

XC. On abiding in the Root of Life. — To Friends in 

and about the two Chalfonts .... 234 
XCI. The unsearcliable Riches of Christ. Believers 
may partake thereof through Obedience, and be 
preserved from every Harm. — To Friends of 

both the Chalfonts 235 

XCIL On the Fear of God. To those persons that drink 

of the Waters at Astrop Wells .... 241 
XCIII. Some Doubts answered respecting Prayer. — To 

Widow Hemmings 243 

XCIV. On Drinking of the Fountain of Living Waters. — 

To Widow Hemmings 247 

XCV. Considerations relative to the Church ; with some 
Cautions to Christian Professors. — To my 
Friends at Horton and thereabouts . . . 250 
XCVI. Hints on Steadfastness in the Truth and its Testi- 
mony ; on forsaking Assemblies for Divine Wor- 
ship, and on slighting Gospel Ministers. — To 
Thomas and Ann Mudd 254 

XCVII. On hating Reproof. — To Catherine Pordage and 

another 257 

XCVIII. Of '^ Fleshly Wisdom.'^ — To Francis Pordage . 259 
XCIX. Advice on Church Discipline. — To the Women 

Friends that meet at Armscot in Worcestershire 261 
C. An Expostulation and Warning. — To the Earl of 

Bridgewater 264 

CI. Faithful Dealing between Brethren recommended 267 
CII. On dwelling with the lowly Seed of Life in all 

Conditions.— To M. Hiorns . . . .269 
CIIL On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers. — To 

his Brother 271 

CIV. Of the Church and Ministry. In reply to an 
Answer of I. H. to somewhat written on behalf 

of Truth 276 

Account of Lady Ccnway 279 



LETTEES 

OP 

ISAAC PENIKGTON. 



LETTER L 

On the Pure^ Living, Spiritual Food. 
To THE FHIENDS AT ChALFONT, IN BUCKIXGHAMSHIEE, ' 

O Friends! Feed on the tree of life; feed on the 
measure of life, and the pure power thereof, which God 
hath revealed, and manifesteth in you. Do ye know your 
food, do ye remember the taste and relish of it? Then 
keep to it, and do not meddle with that which seemeth 
very desirable to the other eye, and very able to make 
wise. O abide in the simplicity that is in Christ, in the 
naked truth that ye have felt there ! and there, ye will be 
able to know and distinguish your food, which hath several 
names in Scripture, but is all one and the same thing : — - 
the bread, the milk, the water, the wine, the flesh and 
blood of Him that came down from heaven, &c. John vi. 
51, &c., — it is the same, only it is given forth weaker and 
stronger, according to the capacity of him that receiveth 
it ; and so hath different names given to it accordingly. 

O keep out of that wisdom, which knoweth not the 
thing ; for that is it, which also stumbles about the names. 
But keep to the principle of life — keep to the seed of the 

21 



22 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

kingdom — feed on that which was from the beginning. Is 
not this meat indeed, and drink indeed ! flesh indeed, and 
blood indeed! The Lord hath advanced you to that 
ministration of life and power, wherein things are known 
above and beyond names ; wherein the life is revealed and 
felt, beyond what words can utter. O dwell in your habi- 
tations ; and feed on the food which God brings you into 
your habitations ; which is pure, living, spiritual, and will 
cause your souls and spirits more and more to live in and 
to God, as ye eat and drink thereof. So, be not shaken or 
disquieted by the wisdom of the flesh ; but feel that which 
settleth and establish eth in the pure power. 

And the Lord God preserve you, and give you to watch 
against, and to feel victory and dominion over, all that is 
contrary to Him in any of you ; and which stands in the 
.way of your fellowship with Him, and of your joy and 
peace in Him, 

This sprang unto you in the good will of your 'Father, 
from the life and love of your brother in the Truth, 

LP. 

Aylesbury Goal, 
18th of Fifth month, 1667. 



LETTEK IL 



Christ the Eoot of all True Religion, &c. 

To Thomas Walmsley. 

Dear Friend. — There is somewhat on my heart this 
morning to write to thee, in the same love wherein I have 
hitherto written, which I feel to be pure, of God, and un- 
feigned towards thee and all men ; though it also putteth 
a difference between those that are renewed by him and 
bear his image, and those who have only a form of relig- 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 23 

ion, without the power and life thereof, which sanctifies 
and redeems up to God, wherever it is received. 

That which was on my heart to thee, in true, pure, and 
tender love, is this which follows : 

All true religion hath a true root ; and that religion, 
profession, worship, faith, hope, peace, assurance, &c., which 
groweth not from the true root, is not true. 

Now, this root is near, and must be felt near, bearing 
the branch, and causing it to bring forth fruit. It is not 
enough to hear of Christ, or read of Christ ; but this is 
the thing, — to feel him my root, my life, my foundation; 
and my soul engrafted into him by him who hath power 
to ingraft. To feel repentance given me by him, faith given 
me by him, the Father revealed and made known to me 
by him, by the pure shinings of his light in my heart ; 
God, who caused the light to shine out of darkness, caus- 
ing it to shine there ; so that, in and through him, I come 
to knowi) not the Son himself only, but the Father also : — 
and then, to come out of the darkness, out of the sin, out 
of the pollutions of the spirit of this world, into the pure, 
holy fellowship of the living, by his holy guidance and 
conduct ; and so, to feel all my prayers, all my comforts, 
all my willingness, all my ability to do and suffer for God 
and the testimony of his Truth, to arise from this holy, 
pure root of life, which gives daily strength against sin 
and death, to all who wait in true humility, and pure sub- 
jection of soul and spirit, upon him : — here, is unspeak- 
able comfort and satisfaction given by him to the soul, 
which all the reasonings of men, with all the devices of 
Satan, cannot damp. For, He who gave it, preserves 
and maintains it, over all the strength that can assault it. 

O Friend ! I beseech thee, mind this ; come, O come to 
the true root ! come to Christ indeed ! Rest not in an 
.outward knowledge; but come to the inward life, the 
hidden life, and receive life from him who is the life ; and 



24 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

then abide in and live to God in the life of his Son. For 
death and destruction, corruption and vanity, may talk 
of the fame of Christ, who is the wisdom of God; but they 
cannot know nor find out the place where this wisdom is 
revealed ; they cannot come at the true, pure fear, which 
God puts into the hearts of his ; this is the beginning of 
the true wisdom, which cleanses darkne.ss and impurity 
out of the hearts of those to whom it is given. For light 
expel leth darkness ; life expel! eth death ; purity expelleth 
impurity ; Christ, where he is received, bindeth and casts 
out the strong man, taking possession of the heart. And" 
if any man be truly and really in Christ, he comes to wit- 
ness a new creation, even the passing away of old things, 
and all things becoming new. 

Christ is faithful in all his house, (" whose house are 
we," saith the Apostle, ^' if we hold fast the confidence, and 
the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end," Heb. iii. 6,) 

— faithful as a Son, who comes in the name and authority 
of the Father, to do whatsoever is to be done in the heart 

— faithful in discovering whatever is contrary to God 
there — faithful in engaging his power against it. And 
shall not his power prevail ? and where it doth prevail, 
and the good pleasure of God's goodness is fulfilled, and 
the work of faith with power, is not the name of the Lord 
Jesus Christ glorified there? Read 2 Thess. i. 11, 12, and 
consider. Did Christ overcome the devil in that body of 
his flesh, and shall He not overcome him in the hearts of 
his children by the power of his Spirit, which he received 
of the Father to comfort them, and carry on his work 
gloriously in them ? ^'hat shall become of those that do 
not fight under Christ, and overcome through Christ ? 
Read Rev. iii. 21. I would not have thee deceived of thy 
soul, or of that religion which saves the soul, which relig- 
ion stands not in word, but in power. Therefore, wait to • 
feel the Spirit and power of Christ, saving thee from that, 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINaTON. 25 

which nothing else can save thee from ; and bringing that 
down in thee under his feet, which nothing else can bring 
down. 

This is from the true desire which my soul hath, after 
the eternal salvation and satisfaction of thine. I. P. 

28th of First month, 1670. 



LETTEE III. 

Of a growth in Grace, amidst Distressing Exercises of Spirit. 
To Bridget Atley. 

My dear Friend, — If thy heart come to feel the seed 
of God, and to wait upon him in the measure of his life, 
he will be tender of thee as a father of his child, and his 
love will be naturally breaking forth towards thee. This 
is the end.of all his dealings with thee, to bring thee hither, 
to make thee fit and capable of entering and abiding here. 
And he hath changed, and doth change thy spirit daily ; 
though it be as the shooting up of the corn, whose growth 
cannot be discerned at present by the most observing eye, 
but it is very manifest afterwards that it hath grown. My 
heart is refreshed for thy sake, rejoicing in the Lord's 
goodness towards thee ; and that the blackness of dark- 
ness begins to scatter from thee, though the enemy be still 
striving the same way to enter and distress thee again. 
But wait to feel the relieving measure of life, and heed 
not distressing thoughts, when they rise ever so strongly 
in thee ; nay, though they have entered thee, fear them 
not, but he still aivhile, not believing in the power ivJiich thou 
feelest they have over thee, and it will fall on a sudden. 

It is good for thy spirit, and greatly to thy advantage, 
to be much and variously exercised by tlie Lord. Thou 
dost not know what the Lord hath already done, and what 
3 



26 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

he is yet duiug for thee therein. Ah I how precious it is 
to be poor, weak, low, empty, naked, distressed for Christ's 
sake, that way may be made for the power and glory of his 
life in the heart. And, O learn, daily more and more, to 
trust him and hope in him, and not to be affrighted with 
any amazement, nor to be taken up with the sight of the 
present thing; but wait for the shutting of thy own 
eye upon every occasion, and for the opening of the eye 
of God in thee, and for the sight of things therewith, as 
they are from him. It is no matter what the enemy strives 
to do in thy heart, nor how distressed thy condition is, but 
what the Lord will do for thee, which is with patience to 
be waited for at his season in every condition. And though 
sin overtake, let not that bow down ; nor let the eye open 
in thee, which stands poring at that : but wait for the heal- 
ing through the chastisement, and know there is an Advo- 
cate, who, in that hour, hath an office of love and a faith- 
ful heart towards thee. Yea, though thou canst not 
believe, yet be not dismayed thereat ; thy Advocate, who 
undertakes thy cause, hath faith to give : only do thou 
sink into, or at least pant after ilie hidden measure of life, 
which is not in that which distresseth, disturbeth, and filleth 
thee with thoughts, fears, troubles, anguish, darknesses, ter- 
rors, and the like; no, no! hut in that which inclines to 
the patience, to the stillness, to the hope, to the waiting, to 
the silence before the Father : this is the same in nature, 
with the most refreshing and glorious-visiting life, though 
not the same in appearance ; and if thy mind be turned 
to it, not minding but overlooking the other, thou wilt 
find some of the same virtue springing up in thy heart 
and soul, at least to stay thee. 

In and through these things, thou vrilt become deeply 
acquainted with the nature of God, and know the won- 
derful riches and virtue of his life, the mightiness of his 
power, and the j)reciousness of his love, tenderness of his 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 27 

mercy, and iofinitene^ of his wisdom, the glory also, and 
exactness of his righteousness, &c. : thou wilt be made 
large in spirit to receive and drink in abundantly of them ; 
and the snares of the enemy will be so known to thee and 
discerned, the way of help so manifest and easy, that their 
strength will be broken, and the poor entangled bird will 
fly away singing, from the nets and entanglements of the 
fowler ; and praises will spring up, and great love in thy 
heart to the Forgiver and Redeemer. O wait, hope, trust, 
look up to thy God ! look over that which stands between ; 
come into his mercy ! let in the faith which openeth the way 
of life, which will shut out the distrusting and doubting 
mind, and will close up the wrong eye, that letteth in reas- 
onings and temptations, the wrong sense, and death with 
• them. 

Thus mayest thou witness, in and through thy Redeemer, 
the abundance of his life and peace. I. P. 



LETTER IV. 

On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends. 

The Lord God of heaven and earth, who searcheth the 
heart and trieth the reins, knows, that we, who are called 
Quakers, have no secret things or hidden principles among 
us to win people to ; but, as we have ourselves been won 
to the simplicity and plainness of Truth, as it is in Christ 
Jesus, and walk therein, so it is the single desire of our 
hearts to bring men thither, where they may have the 
demonstration of God's Spirit, and hear the true witness 
speaking truth in their own consciences. And indeed, 
it was great matter of satisfaction to our hearts, when the 
Lord turned us to his Truth, that we found it to be no 
new thing, but that which we had witnessed and expe- 
rienced in the days of our former profession. For, we well 



28 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

remembered, that we had been acq^iainted with it then ; 
and God now gives us the true and certain sense, that all 
the prayers, and knowledge, and understanding of the 
Scriptures, faith, love, zeal, meekness, patience, humility, 
and whatever we then had, which was dear unto us, and 
precious in the eye of God, came from this Spirit of life, 
this principle of life, which God hath now manifested to 
us, and turned our minds unto. And, O, that they, who 
yet speak against it, knew it, as the Lord hath given us to 
know I surely they could not then either think or speak 
so hardly of it as they do. But Christ was the Son of God 
in his appearance in flesh, whatever the wise men and pro- 
fessors of that age judged and spake of him. And this 
is the appearance and manifestation of the same Christ 
inwardly, even the same virtue, life, and power, which ap- 
peared in that body of flesh, whatever the professors of this 
age think or speak concerning it ; and they are not guilt- 
less before the Lord, but deeply guilty for rising up 
against it. 

There was a precious appearance of God, among that 
sort that were called Puritans, before there was such a rent 
among them, by falling into several ways of worship. 
There was among them great sincerity, and love, and ten- 
derness, and unity in that which was true ; minding the 
work of God in themselves, and being sensible of grace and 
truth in one another's hearts. Now, to desire to know the 
true worship, this was good ; but, every one that had this 
desire, was not acquainted with the Spirit of the Lord, nor 
did wait aright on him, to be led by him into the true 
worship, but followed the apprehensions and conceivings 
of their own minds upon the Scriptures. Now, had these 
known the true Leader, they would never thus have wan- 
dered, nor have been so scattered from the Puritan state, 
which was better than any of these. For, is it possible, 
if the Spirit of God had been the Leader of these, they 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 29 

could thus have wandered from the truth, life, love and 
sense, into a barren dead state in comparison of that ? It 
is true, there was a sincerity and simplicity in many of 
them ; but was not that sincerity and simplicity betrayed, 
and drawn out to seek the living among the dead, among 
dead forms, ways, and worships ? For, though they car- 
ried some life with them into their forms, yet by degrees 
the form grew, and the virtue and power of godliness de- 
creased, and they were swallowed up in high esteem of, 
and contendings, each sort, for their forms ; but them- 
selves had lost what they were inwardly to God, and had 
inwardly received from God in the days of their former 
zeal and tenderness. O that they could see this ! O that 
they could return to their Puritan state, to the sense they 
then had, the love and tenderness that was then in them, 
to the feeling of the principle of life, which they then felt, 
and which then wrought in them ! though, they then dis- 
tinctly knew it not, yet they loved that which gathered 
their minds to God, and in which they felt ability to pray, 
and which opened the Scriptures and the things of God, 
and warmed their hearts truly and livingly in some meas- 
ure. O that they were but there again ! they might soon 
come further. O that they knew their state, as it is known 
in the light of the Lord, and by the Spirit of the Lord ! 
The Lord open the true eye in them, and give them to see 
therewith. I. P. 

Eeading Gaol, 
19th of Seventh Month, 1670. 
3* 



30 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 



LETTER V. 

The Compassion of the Shepherd of the Flock towards the weak, 
&c. How they should follow Him. 

To Friends. — He that is weak and foolish among the 
lambs, continually ready to wander, both out of the past- 
ures and from the fold, and thus to betray his life into 
the hands of the enemy ; — he who is continually scatter- 
ing and squandering away what the Lord in mercy gathers 
for him, and freely bestows upon him ; who, through 
drowsiness and carelessness, hath lost the benefit of, and 
forfeited the sweet and tender visitations of the Most 
High, and is now become dry, dead, barren, thick, earthy ; — 
O my God ! let that soul feel the stirrings of the springs of 
life, and find some encouragements from thee, to hope in 
the free and large mercies of the Shepherd of Israel, who 
casteth not off his sheep because of their wanderings, be- 
cause of their backslidings, because of their infirmities, 
because of their diseases, nay, not because of their hard- 
ness ; but pursues them with his love, findeth them out, 
visiteth with his correcting hand according to their need, 
woundeth with his sword, and melteth in his fire, until he 
hath made them tender and pliable, and then he pours 
in the fresh oil of his salvation and sweetly healeth them. 

O my Friends and brethren in the pure life ! be faith- 
ful to the Lord in returning him all the incomes of his 
Spirit ; follow on in every drawing of his love, while any 
of the virtue of it lasts upon your spirits. Walk with him 
all the day long, and wait for him' all the night season. 
And, in case of erring from him, or sinning grievously 
against him, be not discouraged ; for he is a God of mer- 
cies, and delighteth in pardoning and forgiving much and 
very often. What tender mother can be more ready to 
forgive and embrace the child, that appears broken and 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 31 

afflicted with her sore displeasure ! Yea, He gives broken- 
ness, he melieth the heart, that he may be tender towards, 
and embrace it in his arms of reconciliation, and in the 
peace of his Spirit 

O my dear companions, and fellow-travellers in spirit 
towards the land of the living ! all the motions of the life 
are cross to the corrupt [part] — dwell [in the life,] draw 
the yoke close about your necks, that ye may come into 
unity with the life, and the corrupt be worn out. Take 
the yoke, the cross, the contrariety of Jesus upon your 
spirits daily ; that that may be worn out which hinders 
the unity, and so, ye may feel your King and Saviour ex- 
alted upon his throne in your hearts : this is your rest, 
peace, life, kingdom, and crown forever. I. P. 



LETTER VL 

On Searching for the Hidden Treasure, and selling all for it. 

To Catherine Pokdage. 

Friend, — Thy estate and condition hath been pretty 
much with me, since I last saw thee. I am sensible how 
hard it is for thee, to give up to be reached by the seed 
and power of life ; how readily and easily thy ear and 
heart is opened to another, and the adulterer entertained, 
who huntetli after the precious life. This word of advice 
hath been much in my heart to thee this morning : Sit 
down and count the cost of ploughing up thy field, and 
of searching after the hidden treasure of pure and true 
wisdom, and consider seriously, whether thou canst sell all 
for it, both inward and outward riches ; that, if thou do 
set thy hand to the plough, thou maystnot look back after 
anything else, within or without, but maycst be contc^nt 
and satisfied with the pearl of true wisdom and life alone. 



32 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXI:N^GT0N. 

Now, if thou be truly williug in God's sight thus to do, 
thou must singly give up to follow the Lord in the lead- 
ings of his Spirit, out of all the ways of thy own wisdom 
and knowledge, out of all things w^herein thou hast a life 
and delight, out of him ; thou must not determine what 
thou hast a life in, but the Lord must search thy heart, 
and he will soon show thee (if thy heart be naked and 
open before him, willing to hear and learn of him,) some- 
what in thy heart, somewhat in thy ways, somewhat in 
thy words, thoughts, &c., which is contrary to his pure life 
and Spirit ; and then, that must be denied and given up 
immediately. And afterwards, perhaps the Lord will soon 
discover to thee another lover, which hath had more of thy 
heart than thou hast been aware of; and so, thou must 
part with one after another, until thou hast parted with 
all : and this will prepare thee for the bosom of thy Be- 
loved, who is a jealous God, and seeth not with the eye 
wherewith man seeth. But, if thou be not thus singly 
given up, though thou should put thy hand to the plough, 
thou wilt be looking back some time or other : and that 
wisdom which draweth aside from the Lord, will blind thy 
eye and deceive thy mind, and draw^ thee from the, sim- 
plicity and nakedness of Truth, into some image or other 
of it, so that instead of the pure Truth itself, thou wilt 
believe and embrace a lie. 

Thou hast travelled long in the heights above the seed ; 
O! consider, if that be not yet standing in thee, which 
could not have been found standing, if thou hadst known 
the true seed, and travelled therewith. This enhances the 
price of Truth as to thee, that thou must part with more 
for it, than will be required of many others ; yet, if thou 
be faithful to the Lord, and diligently follow him in the 
simplicity. Truth will at length recompense thee for all 
thy labours, sorrow^s, and travels. But a thorough work 
will the Lord make in thy earth, if thou singly give up 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 33 

unto him, and faithfully follow ; and many devices wilt 
thou meet with, to turn thy mind out of the way, and to 
cause thee to shun the bitterness of the cross, and to 
kindle and nourish a hope in thee, that thou mayest find 
a more easy way to the same life and everlasting sub- 
stance. The Lord hath reached to thee, and the Lord is 
willing to search thy heart, to find out the deceiver and 
enemy in his most secret lurking-places ; but, when the 
Lord hath found him out, thou must give him up to God's 
stroke, and not suffer him to find a shelter in thy mind 
to save him therefrom. For he is very subtle, and will 
twist and twine all manner of ways to deceive thee and 
save himself; nor art thou yet acquainted with, or able to 
discern his devices. The Lord alone can help thee — and 
he will help thee, if thou be not hasty to join with the 
enemy, nor give up thy judgment to believe what he repre- 
sents, and seems inwardly to represent to thee as true ; but 
abide and dwell in the sense of thy own inability to judge, 
waiting to feel that which is true, pure, and living of God, 
judge in thee, not so much in demonstrations of wisdom, 
as in tender and secret drawings of the beginnings of a 
new nature, away from what is of an earthly nature. For, 
thou must come out of the spirit of this world, if thou wilt 
come into God's Spirit ; and thou must come out of the 
love of the things of this world ; if thou wilt come out of 
the spirit of this world ; for, in the love of the things of 
this world, the spirit of this world lodgeth and dwelleth, 
and thou canst not touch the unclean thing, but thou also 
touchest somewhat of the unclean spirit. Therefore, said 
John, from a true and deep understanding, " Love not the 
world, neither the things of the world," (if thou love the 
things of the world, thou Ipvest the world,) for, " if any 
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 
The day of God's mercy and visitation is upon thee, 
who is visiting that spirit in thee which hath led thee 

C 



34 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

aside, even with the judgment proper for it; that Zion in 
tliee might be thereby redeemed, and thy soul converted 
to, and truly brought forth in righteousness. I. P. 

11th of First Month, 1670. 



LETTER VII. 

A Christian Salutation. 
To Elizabeth Walmsley. 

Dear Friexd, — My heart was exceedingly melted 
within me at the reading of thy precious and tender Imes ; 
yea, indeed, I was quite overcome, and was fain several 
times to break off, the freshness and strength of life in 
them did so flow in upon me ; and I said, again and 
again, in my heart. It is the very voice of my Father's 
child, whose sound did deeply reach to, and refresh my 
very soul. And this my heart saith, Blessed be my God, 
for his tender mercies to thee, in visiting, leading, and pre- 
serving thee to this day, and for teaching his seed thus to 
speak in thee. Oh ! let his praise live and abound in thy 
breast forever. And in the Sowings and streamings of 
this life, remember me at the throne of my Father's mercy, 
by which alone I live, and have hope before him. 

May the mercies, blessing, and pure presence of my 
God, fill thy soul, and rest upon thee forever ! Amen ! 
Amen ! 

Thus prayeth for thee thy unfeigned Friend^ and dear 
lover of the pure seed of life in thee, I. P. 

Mind my dear love to thy sister, whose inward welfare 
and prosperity I desire, even .that she may be one with 
thee in the seed and life of God. 

Aylesbuky Gaol, 
19th of Eighth Month, 1665. 



liETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 35 



LETTER VIII. 

On Christ being Manifested Within, and the Sprinkling of His 
Blood Inwardly. 

To Thomas Walmsley. 

Fkiend T. W., — God is love : and he giveth love, and 
teachetti to love ; and with the love which my God hath 
given me, and wherewith he hath taught me to love, have 
I loved thee, and sought the everlasting good of thy soul, 
even as of my own. 

This morning, the consideration of thee v/as strong upon 
my spirit, how that thou wast stricken in years, and must 
shortly pass out of this world, and give an account to 
God ; and this earnest desire was in my heart, that thou 
mightst be fitted and rightly prepared, to give such an 
account, as the Lord, the great, righteous, and impartial 
Judge, might own and approve of, to thy eternal joy ; for 
which end, two things were upon my heart to propose to 
thee, to be rightly considered by thee. 

One is, whether thou canst truly say, as in God's sight, 
that thou hast known and experienced Christ within, 
redeeming thee from sin within f Hath Christ indeed 
brought salvation home to thy heart ? Hast thou known 
his inward living power, breaking the strength and power 
of Satan within thee? Hast thou known Him stronger 
than the strong man inwardly? Hast thou first known 
Christ knock at the door of thy heart, and opened to and 
let him in ; and afterwards experienced what he doth in 
the heart, vv^here he is let in ? Or hast thou had only a 
notional knowledge and belief concerning Christ ivithout, 
and never known what it was to have the Son revealed in 
theef Oh! tluit thou mightst know, and experimentally 
understand this Scripture, before thou go hence and be no 



36 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

more seen, — " If Clirist be in you, the body is dead because 
of sin ; '' — and this other also, — " He that is Christ's hath 
crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." The 
Lord God make thee truly weighty and serious, and 
rightly considerate, and give thee true, unerring judgment; 
that thou mayst not be deceived about this thing, which 
is of such deep and everlasting concernment to thy soul ! 

The other is, whether thou dost experience the sprink- 
ling of the blood of the Lord Jesus upon thy conscience ? 
The Jews were saved by the sprinkling of the blood of 
the lamb outwardly. The Lamb of God taketh away the 
sins of the world, by the sprinkling of his blood inwardly. 
Now, I beseech thee, consider : hast thou only a notion of 
Christ's blood as it was shed without, or dost thou also 
know the sprinkling within in thy own heart ? Hath God 
made that new covenant, the everlasting covenant with 
thee, wherein the blood of sprinkling is felt, and the 
precious effects of it experienced ? for then, indeed, iniqui- 
ties are forgiven, and sin remembered no more ; but the 
soul comes to witness real justification from sin, and that 
peace which passeth understanding, which no man can 
give or take away ; neither doth any man know what it is, 
but he that hath it. O that thou mayst know the right- 
eousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be clothed with it, 
that thou mayst stand justified in God's sight forever, at 
that great day ! I. P. 

12th of Eleventh Month, 1677. 



LETTER IX. 



The Way of God's Eedemption is above the Ways of Man's 
Wisdom. 

M^ DEAR Friend, — This then is the way of redemp- 
tion ; to wait to feel the appearance of the light of the 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 37 

Spirit in the heart ; and, at its least or lowest appearance, 
to be turned from the darkness towards it. Oh ! feel the 
redeeming arm in thine own heart, and know the love 
which stretcheth it forth, and, take heed of being preju- 
diced against its inward visitations to thee : for, there is 
that near thee which would darken thee, and keep the 
seed of life in bondage. I know there is that in thee, 
which pants and is not satisfied, somewhat that thirsts 
after the living waters. The Spirit of the Lord saith, 
Come, come to the fountain of eternal life ; drink, and 
live. 

Lord my God ! discover to the thirsty souls, what it 
is that withholds them from the living waters ; that they 

. may not labour and spend their strength in vain, in duties 
and ordinances invented by man, for that w^hich may lull 
asleep for the present, but can never quiet the cry of the 
living seed, nor ever satisfy the soul. 

1 know thy snare : there is a building in the earthly 
wisdom, a knowledge which thou boldest in the compre- 
hension, out of the living feeling of that light, from which 
the true knowledge springs, and in which alone it is held. 
Thou must know the rasing of this building, the confound- 
ing and scattering of this knowledge ; that the true heir 
of the true knowledge may spring, and thou mayst feel the 
babe raised, to whom God reveals the mysteries of his 
kingdom ; which he hides from the wase professors and 
teachers in this age, as he hath done in all ages. Thou 
art very wise ; but thou must sell all that, and become a 
very fool, if thou wilt have the riches and evei'lasting 
treasure of the kingdom. 

And, if thou wouldst draw near and find access to God 
in prayer, thou must wait to feel the birth pray, and take 
heed of putting up requests in thy own wisdom, and 
according to thy own will ; for these are the prayers of 
the false-formed child, or counterfeited birth, and not of 
4 



38 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

the right seed ; and the Father knows not, nor regards 
this voice. This is our religion : to feel that, w^aich God 
begets in our hearts, preserved alive by God ; to be taught 
by hirn to know him, to worship, and live to him, in the 
leadings and by the power of his Spirit: and, in this 
religion we have the comforts and appearance of his 
Spirit ; which are past all the disputings and questionings 
of man's wisdom, yea, and of our own hearts also, being 
demonstrated and made manifest to our spirits in a higher 
principle. 

I found my heart in great love drawn to write these 
things to thee ; and my soul pursueth them with breath- 
ings to the Lord my God, that hereby, or by what other 
means he shall see good, thou mayst be drawn iuto true 
unity and fellowship with the spring of eternal life ; and 
not be deceived from the precious enjoyment of the God 
of thy life here, or of the salvation of thy soul forever. 
The path of life is living ; and thy feet must be guided 
into it, and walk faithfully in it to the end, if thou wilt sit 
down in God's eternal rest and peace. 

I have been -long desolate, and a great mourner after 
my God, and know how to pity and weep over wandering 
souls ; though I cannot but rejoice at this great day of 
salvation and powerful visitation of God's Spirit, wherein 
he hath sought out and gathered many into the fold of 
his pure rest, where he is become their living Shepherd, 
and daily ministers of his life unto them. And he is seek- 
ing out many more: — happy are they, that know and 
return at the Shepherd's voice, when he calleth after 
them. 

I remain thy true, entire, faithful, loving Friend, in the 
love and good-will of the Lord,' wishing to thy soul as to 
my own. I. P. 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 39 



LETTER X. 

On tlie Gospel, and on preaching it; also on the Scriptures, &c. 

There is a question ariseth in my heart to thee, v/hich 
is this : 

How is the everlasting gospel (wherein Christ is truly 
made known, and salvation really witnessed in the hearts 
of those that receive it,) preached at this day? How 
hath the Lord appointed it to be preached, and how is it 
preached, and how many men come to hear it, that their 
souls may live? Are not they blessed that hear the joy- 
ful sound thereof? Are not they wretched, and miserable, 
and blind, and naked, who mistake and miss concerning 
the sound of it, which it pleaseth the Spirit of the Lord to 
give forth in this our day ? O Friend ! I beseech thee, 
consider it, and do not think it strange that I propose it 
to thee ; for he that would find the gospel, must search 
where it is hid ; and it is hid in them that are lost, who 
go astray from the life and power of it. 

It is a wonderful thing, to those whom the Lord hath 
made truly sensible, to consider how the Truth, the gospel, 
the life, the power which saves, is one and the same in all 
ages and generations, and yet, still hid from the wise, pru- 
dent, professing eye in every age and generation. O 
Friend ! that thou didst thoroughly know that wise and 
prudent eye in thyself, from which the Lord hides it, and 
that eye, which perhaps thou wilt not call prudent, to 
which the Lord opens it. 

Now, Friend, let me speak a few words to thee, not only 
from what I have felt in my heart, but have also read in 
the Scriptures of truth. 

The gospel, after the apostacy, is thus to be preached, 



40 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

" Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his 
judgment is come ; and worship him that made heaven, 
and earth/' &c. Rev. xiv. 7. If thou knowest the 
Preacher that preached this, if thou hast heard this 
preached in thine own heart, if thou hast met with that 
fear there, which God's Spirit teacheth and giveth, if thou 
hast known the hour of God's judgment, and had the axe 
laid to the root of the tree ; and if thou hast been taught 
by the Son to worship the Father in Spirit and truth; 
thou hast, without doubt, met with the gospel, the ever- 
lasting gospel ; and if God require of thee, and assist thee 
by his Spirit and power to preach this to others, thou art 
a preacher of the everlasting gospel, and an able minister 
of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. 
But, I beseech thee, take heed of preaching thine own 
formings and conceivings upon the letter, as too many do 
in this day ; for that falls short of true preaching the 
letter. O let these things be weighty with thee ! that 
thou mayst learn aright to search and understand the 
Scriptures, and know how the Father hath revealed the 
Son in this day, and how to come to him, to receive life 
from him. For many, through ignorance, mistake in this 
matter ; and so run on in their own wills, wisdom, and 
comprehension of things, and miss of the drawings of the 
Father ; and thus, come not aright to the Son, but only 
according as they imagine and apprehend, according to 
what they have gathered and conceived upon the Scrip- 
tures. 

Friend, God who caused light to shine in this outward 
world, hath judged it necessary to cause the light of his 
Spirit to shine inwardly in the heart ; and this gives the 
knowledge of the Scriptures, and the true sense and dis- 
cerning of inward and spiritual things. Yea, here the 
Son is known, and his blood felt cleansing; which, with- 
out this, the Scriptures do not make manifest ; but, in this, 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON . 41 

the Scriptures are a clear and faithful record of and testi- 
mony to them. O take heed how thou readest, and how 
thou understandest the Scriptures, — in what light, in 
what spirit ! for, it is easy erring ; and without the pres- 
ence and guidance of God's Spirit herein, thou canst not 
walk safely. And truly it is great presumption in any 
man to read the Scriptures boldly, and without fear and 
reverence to Him who penned them, or to put any of his 
own meanings and conceiyings upon God's words ; which 
it is hard for him to forbear to do, who reads them in the 
liberty of his own spirit, out of the light of God's Spirit, 
which is the limit and yoke of the true readers, and of 
those who understand the Scriptures. I. P, 

4th of Fourth Month,— 



LETTER XL 

The Duty of being Content with what is Made Known. 

The enemy kindles a great distress in the mind,, by 
stirring up an earnest desire, and a sense of a seeming 
necessity, to know. When a motion ariseth, how shall I 
do, to know whether it be of God or no ? For, if it be of 
God, it ought to be obeyed ; and, if it be not of God, it 
ought to be resisted ; but what shall I do, who cannot tell 
what it is ? I must of necessity fail, either into disobedi- 
ence to God's Spirit, or into the snares of the enemy. 
Thus the enemy raiseth up a strength in the reasoning 
part, even unanswerable there. But, what if it be better 
for thee, at present, to be darkened about these things, 
than as yet to know? Can that possibly be? will the 
strong reason readily say. Yes, that it may, in many 
respects. There is somewhat else would live and be acting 
in thee, if the clear and heavenly knowledge were given ; 

and thou wouldst be centering in* self, that which thou 

4^ 



42 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

receivedst from God ; vea, thou wouldst miss of tlie way 
of true knowle<lge, aud never learn in every state to be 
content, nor know the pure way and actings of life in such 
a state. Truly, this is not the way of the child's know- 
ing ; but the child knows, in resignation and subjection of 
it^ very knowledge ; and if there appear ever so great a 
necessity of knowledge, and yet knowledge be not given, 
it sinks, in fear and hunnlity, into the will of the pure 
seed ; and there somewhat springs up, (unknown to the 
natural wisdom, and not in the way of man's wisdom,) 
which at seasons preservers aud bears it up in such a state. 
But this is a great mystery ; yet sensibly experienced by 
the true travellers at this day. 

Therefore, retire out of all necessities, according to the 
apprehension of the rea^oniug mind ; and judge that only 
necessary, which God, in his eternal wisdom and love, 
proportions out unto us. And when thou comest hither, 
thou wilt come to thy rest ; and as thou abidest here, thou 
wilt abide in thy soul's true rest, and know the precious- 
xiess of that lesson, and of w^hom thou art to learn it, even, 
in every state to be content. 



LETTEE XIL 

Of Faith in the Healing Power of Christ. 

Feiexd, — I have had of late some deep and serious 
thoughts concerniug thee, and a sense of thee, as betAveen 
the Lord and my own soul, yet I have not had any 
thing to signif}" or express to thee, till this morning. 
But somewhat this morning sj)rang up in my heart, 
sweetly and freshly, which I had pure drawings to impart 
to thee. 

There was a quick ^use of thee upon my heart, and in 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 43 

tbat sense this cry was in me : — Oh ! that thou wert ac- 
quainted with the pure, eternal power of the Lord, and 
mightst feel his outstretched arm revealed in thee, and 
witness the faith which stands in that power ; and, in that 
faith, believe and wait for what God is doing, and willing 
to do, in and for his children. " If ye had faith," said 
Christ, " but as a grain of mustard seed, ye should say to 
this mountain, be thou cast into the midst of the sea, and 
it should be so." Indeed, the true faith, the pure faith, 
the living faith, which stands in the power, doth remove 
all the mountains that are in the way, and makes the 
crooked ways straight, and the rough ways plain. If thou 
had lived in the days of Christ's flesh, and wanted outward 
healing, and had been willing' to come to him for healing, 
but withal had not come with faith that he was able and 
willing to heal perfectly ; mightest not thou have missed 
of that cleansing and outward health and salvation, which 
others met with ? For, did not he say, " Be it unto thee 
according to thy faith ? " And is not he the Physician of 
the soul ? and is not his skill to he trusted and believed 
in? He that hopeth, and believeth, and waiteth, and 
prayeth, and fighteth the good fight of faith, which gives 
victory over sin, Satan, and the world — he may possibly 
overcome ; yea, he that warreth lawfully, (that is, with the 
spiritual weapon, which is mighty through God,) he that 
warreth with this only, and with this constantly, shall be 
sure to overcome. For, greater is He that is in the true 
believer, than he that is in the world. 

O that thou mightest have experience of these things, 
and witness the banner of Christ's love and power dis- 
played in thee, and the victories and conquests that are 
thereby, and the safety and peace which is under it ! For, 
of a truth, we do not speak boastingly, but are witnesses 
of the majesty of God's love and power, which we testify 
of. The Lord so enlighten and guide thee, that thou may- 



44 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 

est obtain t]\e desires of thy heart; for, I really believe 
thy desire is after holiness and after communion with the 
Father and the Son, and with the saints in light : O that 
thou mayest be led into the true pure light of life, that 
there thou mayest enjoy what in this kind thou desirest! 

This is from one, who singly, as in the Lord's sight, 
wisheth well unto thee. I. P. 

Eeading Gaol, 
27th of Eighth Month, 1670. 



LETTER XIIL 

Advice to one Kespecting the Dark Suggestions of the Enemy. 

Dear Friend, — Thou hast had the path of salvation 
faithfully testified of to thee, and hast come to a sense of 
the thing : even to the feeling of that, whereby the Father 
begets life, and manifesteth his love and peace in and to 
the soul. Now, what remains ? but that thou look up to 
the Lord, to guide thy feet in this path, and to preserve 
from that which darkens and leads out of the way; that 
thou mayest pass on thy- journey safely, and come to the 
inheritance and enjoyment of that, which thy soul longeth 
after. 

There is life, there is peace, there is joy, there is rigfit- 
eousness, there is health, there is salvation, there is power 
of redemption — iii the seed : yea, there is so. But thy 
soul wants, and doth not enjoy these things. Well, but 
how mayest thou come to enjoy them ? There is no way, 
but union with the seed ; knowing the seed, hearing the 
voice of the seed, learning of, and becoming subject to, the 
seed. " Learn of me, take my yoke upon you," saith Christ, 
" and ye shall find rest to your souls." Wouldst thou feel 
thy souFs rest in Christ? Thou must know the seed's 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 45 

voice, hear it, learn daily of him, become his disciple; 
take up, from his nature, what is contrary to thy nature. 
And then, as thy nature is v/orn out, and his nature comes 
up in thee, thou wilt find all easy ; all that is of life easy, 
and transgression hard — unbelief hard : yea, thou wilt 
find it very hard and unnatural, when the nature of the 
seed is grown up in thee, either to distrust the Lord or 
hearken to his enemy. And then thou wilt change that 
dwelling-place (into which Satan brings dark thoughts, 
suggestions, and reasonings,) for the dwelling-place which 
is from above, which is the habitation of the righteous ; 
wherein there is light, life, peace, satisfaction, health, sal- 
vation, and rejoicing of soul from and before the Lord. 

Now, do not say. Who shall do thus for me ? but know, 
4^he arm of the Lord is mighty, and brings mighty things 
to pass ; and that arm hath been revealed in thee, and is 
at work for thee. O that thou couldst trust it ! (why canst 
thou not ! hath it not sown a seed of faith in thee ?) and 
come in to and abide in the path, wherein its mighty, power- 
ful operations are felt and made manifest! And, O that 
thou mayest find ability, to watch against that which bows 
down, and not so let in, as thou hast done exceedingly, 
to the grievous wounding and distressing of thy soul ! For, 
the enemy's dark suggestions work according to their na- 
ture ; and, if thou let them lie upon thee, how can they 
but darken, afflict, and perplex thee ? 

Therefore, in the evil hour, fly from all things that thus 
arise in thee ; and lie still, feel thy stay, till His light, 
which " makes manifest," arise in thee, and clear up things 
to thee. And think not the time of darkness long ; but 
watch, that thy heart be kept empty, and thy mind clear 
of thoughts and belief of things, till He bring in some- 
what, which thou mayest safely receive. Therefore, say 
to thy thoughts and to thy belief of things, (according to 
the representation of the dark power, in the time of thy 



46 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

darkness,) " Get thee hence ! " And, if that will not do, 
look up to the Lord to speak to them ; and to keep them 
out, if they be not already entered, or to thrust them out 
if they be already got in. And, if he do not so presently, 
or for a long time, yet do not murmur or think much, but 
wait till he do. Yea, though they violently thrust them- 
selves upon thee, and seem to have entered thy mind, yet 
let them be as strangers to thee ; receive them not, believe 
them not, know them not, own them not ; and thy bosom 
will, notwithstanding, be chaste in the eye of the Lord, 
though they may seem to thee to have defiled thee. 

Look up to the Father, that thou may est learn this of him : 
and, becoming faithful to him therein, thou wilt find thy 
darkness abate, and its strength more and more broken 
in thee ; and thou wilt not only feel and taste a little, now 
and then, but also come to possess and inherit, and rejoice 
before the Lord in thy portion. 

Thy Friend in the Truth, which changeth not, but is pure, 
and preserveth pure forever. I. P. 

From Aylesbury Gaol, 
28th of Seventh Month, 1667. 



LETTEE XIV. 



On Obedience, Spiritual Growth, EstabUshment, and Victory in 
and through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Dear Friend, — Some Scriptures did spring up and 
open in my heart towards thee this morning. 

One was, that of 2 Cor. x. 4, 5, and 6. That which was 
chiefly on my heart therefrom, was about the fufilling of 
obedience. First, there is a knowing the will of God ; a 
waiting to know and understand from God, what is his 
holy, good, perfect, and acceptable will. Then, as God 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 47 

gives the knowledge, he requires obedience ; which is to 
be learned of God in the new spirit and life. For, in the 
old nature, mind and spirit, there is nothing but darkness 
and disobedience ; in the new creation is the new obedi- 
ence. So that, there is first a beginning of knowledge in 
the Spirit, a beginning of faith in the renewing power, and 
a beginning of obedience (in the same) to him that calls. 
Then, there is an increase of knowledge, of true, pure, 
living knowledge, an increase of faith, and a growing 
more and more obedient under the exercises, judgments, 
and chastisements of the Father's Spirit : even till, at 
length, the soul comes to witness a full readiness, skill, and 
strength (in and through Christ, in and through the meas- 
ure of the gift of grace received from him,) to obey in all 
things. When the new birth is thus grown up into strength 
and dominion, into the stature of a man in Christ ; then 
the senses, which have been long exercised in discerning 
between good and evil, grow strong : and there is a quick 
discerning in the fear of the Lord, and an authority, in his 
name and power, over the enemy and his temptations : so 
that every stronghold is broken down, every imagination 
and false reasoning concerning the Truth, is subjected and 
broken by the evidence and pov/er of Truth, every thought 
brought under, into captivity, even to the obedience of 
Christ ; with a readiness to reject all unbelief and disobe- 
dience, that will so much as offer to rise up. Now, is not 
this the Christian state, which God would have his chil- 
dren aim and arrive at ? and are not they blessed who 
witness it? and doth not the true ministration of the gospel 
light, Spirit, and power lead to it ? and should any be at 
rest in their spirits, in an easeful, formal, dry, dead profes- 
sion without it ? 

Another Scripture was 1 Pet. ii. 2, 3, 4, and 5. It is 
precious to witness the state of a new-born babe, to be be- 
gotten to God by the word of life and power, even by the 



48 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

word Tvliicli God ingrafts into the heart. what living 
desires, then, are there, after that which nourisheth the 
birth of life, which God breathes from his own Spirit, and 
begets the soul into ! Now, as the birth, is pure, so the 
nourishment is pure : — pure milk from the pure word, — 
sincere, unmixed milk from the word of life, — from the 
breast of life. Who is it that begets to God ? It is the 
Spirit, the Word, the second Adam, he whose name is the 
Yford of God. Who is the mother of these children ? It 
is the heavenly wisdom, the Jerusalem which is above. 
(" Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother 
of us all." " Wisdom is justified of her children.") Now, 
who feeds these children? who nourisheth, who brings 
them up ? Why, the mother which bare them, she holds 
forth the breast of life to them, she yields to them the 
pure milk of the word. The new-born babes, they long 
for it, they cry for their food, they earnestly desire after 
it ; and the tender mother gives it forth to them, even the 
milk of the breast of life from the pure word of life ; and 
by this they grow. But, how came the babes to desire 
after such pure, sincere, unmixed food ? Oh I they have 
" tasted that the Lord is gracious." They have had the 
heavenly taste, they have tasted that which was living 
and pure from God, from his tender mercy and grace, 
wherein he ministers life and salvation. O the remem- 
brance and sense of the sweetness of this, is upon their 
palates I O how precious and living is it, when it comes 
new and fresh from him I the words which he speaks, they 
are still spirit and life to the soul. How can they but 
desire, that from the breast of life, from the heavenly wis- 
dom and divine knowledge of his Father, he would minister 
unto them of the pure food, that they may know and feed 
on the Truth as it is in Jesus? Here, they come to him 
as unto a living fountain, and a living stone, disallowed 
indeed, and rejected of the builders after the flesh, in all 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 49 

ages and generations ; but chosen of God, and precious to 
all that have the true sense and understanding. They 
come thus to him daily, and so are built up into a living 
house, or spiritual temple and dwelling-place for God. 
He, the foundation stone, the corner stone, the top stone, 
the hope and crown of their glory ; they, living stones in 
him quickened and kept alive in and by him, and shining 
in his light and glory. 

A third Scripture was Eph. vi. 10, 11, 12, and 13. Is 
not this a precious state, to be " strong in the Lord and in 
the power of his might ? " to know '' the whole armour of 
God," and to put it on and stand armed against the 
strength of the enemy, and to overcome him ? was there 
ever such a state witnessed ? Yea ; John writeth to the 
young men in his time, because they had " overcome the 
wicked one." (Compare 1 John, ii. 14, with Eph. vi. 10.) 
May not such a thing be again witnessed, even now, in 
these our days ? Were not he a messenger of good tidings 
to thee, who from God could tell thee, how thou mightst 
come to know, to put on, to fight in this holy armour, and 
thereby overcome all the adversaries of thy soul ? Doth 
not the apostle say, "The weapons of our warfare are 
mighty through God ? " Wouldst not thou be willing to 
witness them so in thee ? Mind then — in the measure of 
life, in the measure of grace and truth which is from 
Christ, all the knowledge, strength, and use of the armour 
lies. Thus, the Truth as it is in Jesus is the girdle of 
the loins ; and from and through him, in his pure measure 
of life, righteousness springs up as a breastplate. There 
likewise, the feet are shod with the preparation of the gos- 
pel of peace ; for there, the gospel, the life, the redeeming 
power and virtue is always in readiness, whenever the 
Lord seeth service for it. And then the shield of faith is 
known, which quencheth the lire of the enemy's tempta- 
tions. There also, is the hehnet of salvation, the true 
5 D 



50 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

hops ; for in it, Christ, the hope of glory, is revealed, and 
felt to be near. And then, the s^Yord of the Spirit is wit- 
nessed, which is the living Word, the Spirit which quick- 
ens and gives life ; which Word is quick, piercing, and 
exceeding powerful, able to smite and wound death. (See 
Rev. i..l6, Isa. xxvii. 1, and xi, 4, and 2 Thes. ii. 8.) 
And here, is pure praying in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, 
and watching thereunto with perseverance, both for itself 
in particular, and the whole body of the faithful in gen- 
eral ; but for those more especially, on whom lies the 
weight of the service in and towards the body : so that, 
here, is prayer in its due season, weight, and order offered 
up to God, in true life and understanding : which prayer 
God always heareth. 

O mind this thing diligently, for it is of great concern- 
ment to thee I In the grace of the gospel, in the measure 
of truth and life from the quickening Word, thou meetest 
with the whole armour of God. Thou mayest there know 
it, thou mayest there put it on, stand armed with it, and 
fight with success against thy soul's enemies. Out of this, 
thou mayest get apprehensions in thy mind about it, but 
canst never truly know it, canst never come at it, or be 
covered and armed with it, to stand and fight successfully 
and victoriously against the enemies of thy soul. 

Ah ! little dost thou know the loving kindness of the 
Lord in visiting thee with his Truth, in giving thee a sense 
beyond others, in so tenderly drawing and inviting thy 
heart ; or what this will come to, if thou faithfully give up 
to hearken to and follow him. I. p. 

2Gth of Tenth Month, 1671. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 51 



LETTER XV. 

Tlie least Messenger of the Gospel is not to be despised. A Change 
of Heart is to be sought, rather than a Sign. 

¥/hat is Paul ? what is Apollos ? or what is Cephas ? 
It is one and the same pure life and word of power, which 
springs in all the holy brethren, whom God hath sanctified 
and prepared to give forth the sound of his holy trumpet. 
(It is the Lord himself, who gives forth the true and 
certain sound ; great is the company of those, whom he 
hath chosen and sent forth to publish it ; none of whom 
can be despised in their message, without despising him 
that sent them ; for, he sends forth the least and weakest, 
as well as the greatest.) 

O ! take heed of that nature and spirit in thee, which 
desires or seeks after a sign. It is the evil and adulterous 
generation which seeks after a sign. But wait to meet 
with that inwardly, which changeth the heart, and renews 
the mind to God : which teacheth to love the Lord God 
with all the heart, soul, mind, and spirit, that so true life 
from and in him may be witnessed. — And as for being as 
one of us, thou must be formed so by the Lord, by being 
inwardly changed and renewed by the Spirit and power 
of the Lord, ere thou canst witness true unity with us. 
If thou feel the principle of Truth in thy own heart, and 
in that know and own us, and so come among us, and join 
to us in the Truth, and keep faithful to the principle, thou 
wilt never be in danger of leaving us, as they that depart 
from the principle in their own hearts, may soon and 
easily do. 



52 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

LETTER XVI. 

Advice on Reading tlie Scriptures. 

Friend, — Hearken to a word of advice, which is in 
my heart to thee ; it may be of great use to thee, if the 
Lord open thy spirit, and cause it to sink in. It is this. 

Wait on the Lord, that thou mayest, from him, feel the 
right limit to thy mind, in reading the Scriptures. For, 
the mind of man is busy and active, willing to be running 
beyond its bounds, guessing at the meaning of God's 
Spirit, and imagining of itself, unless the Lord limit it. 
Therefore, read in fear ; and wait understandingly to dis- 
tinguish, between God's opening to thee words, concerning 
the kingdom and the things of the kingdom, and thy own 
apprehensions about them ; that the one may be always 
cast by, and the other always embraced by thee. And, 
always wait God's season : do not presume to understand 
a thing, before he give thee the understanding of it : and 
know also, that he alone is able to preserve the true sense 
and knowledge in thee ; that thou mayest live dependently 
upon him for thy knowledge, and never " lean to thy own 
understanding." Little dost thou know, what it hath cost 
us, to have our own understanding and wisdom broken 
down ; and how demonstratively by this Spirit the Lord 
opens Scriptures to us, (yea, and the things themselves, 
which the Scriptures speak of,) ever since he hath taught 
us to deny our own understanding, and to lean upon his 
Spirit and wisdom. 

The Lord guide thee by his certain, infallible Spirit, 
into the certain, infallible, everlasting way of life, that by 
the shinings of his light. Spirit, and power in thee, thou 
mayest see light and enjoy life. For, if thou didst certainly 
and infallibly understand all the words, descriptions, and 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 53 

testimonies concerning tli6 thing in the Scriptures ; yet, it 
is one thing to understand words, testimonies, and descrip- 
tions ; and it is another matter to understand, know, enjoy, 
possess, and live in that which the words relate to, describe, 
and bear witness of. 

And, Friend, if thou wilt be an inward Jew, and know 
and understand the laws of life, the laws of the new cove- 
nant, thou must read them in those tables, where God 
writes them in and by the new covenant. Indeed, by read- 
ing in the letter, thou mayest read testimonies concerning 
the Spirit and his ministration ; but thou must read in the 
Spirit, if ever thou come rightly to understand the letter. 
And, the end of words is to bring men to the knowledge 
of things, beyond what words can utter. So, learn of the 
Lord to make a right use of the Scriptures ; which is, by 
esteeming them in their place, and prizing that above them, 
which is above them. The " eternal life,'' the Spirit, the 
power, the fountain of living waters, the everlasting pure 
well is above the words concerning it. This, the believer 
is to witness in himself, and to draw water with joy out 
of it. i. P. 



LETTEK XVII. 



On the Righteousness which is of Christ, on the Manhood and 
Godhead of Christ. 

To THE Friend of Francis Fines. 

Friend, — After some deep exercise of spirit concerning 
thee, under great grief of heart for thee, I felt a constraint 
of love, forcing these following considerations from me, 
to lay before thee. 

As for William Penn, thou didst not make mention of 
him to me in thy former letter. And as to thy charge upon 
5^ 



54 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

him, that he deuies the " Trinity," redemption by Christ's 
blood, aud imputed righteousness, thou mayest read his 
apology touching those things, which it is just thou shouldst 
seriously weigh, as in God's sight : and then, perhaps thou 
wilt not so resolutely charge him as now thou dost. 

Clirist is made unto us righteousness, by faith in his 
blood, and by faith in his Spirit : and he that doth not 
believe in his Spirit, and receives not instruction and help 
fi'om his Spirit to believe, cannot believe aright in his 
blood. All that is of Christ is righteous ; all that is of 
Christ, the righteous and holy root, is righteous and holy, 
wherever it is found. And, by Christ, that which is truly 
holy and righteous is brought up in us, and we forgiven 
and washed from our sins and iniquities for his name's 
sake. And the receiving of the pardon of sins is precious, 
and the bringing forth in the new life is precious also. 

I am satisfied in God's Spirit, that that which I have 
written in the last I sent to thee, is the sum and substance 
of true religion ; the sum and substance whereof, doth not 
stand in getting a notion of Christ's righteousness, but in 
feeling the power of the endless life, receiving the power, 
and being changed by the power. And where Christ is, 
there is his righteousness. He that hath the Son, hath life 
and righteousness ; but he that hath not the Son, hath not 
life nor righteousness. And where Christ is not, there is 
not his righteousness ; but only a notion thereof, from 
apprehensions formed out of the Scriptures by man's wis- 
dom, which should be destroyed. I would not have thy 
knowledge here, nor thy standing here, nor thy faith here ; 
but in the truth and life itself. 

Christ was anointed and sent of God, a Saviour, to de- 
stroy the works of the devil, to break down all rule and 
authority contrary to God in man ; for, his work is in the 
heart. There he quickens, there he raiseth, there he brings 
into death that which is to die, raising the seed immortal, 



I.ETTEIIS OF ISAAC PEISTINGTON. 55 

and bringing the creature into subjection to it. Now, to 
feel the power that doth this, and to feel this wrought by 
the power, this is far beyond all talk about justification 
and righteousness. Hither would I have thee come, out 
of the talk, out of the outwardness of knowledge, into the 
thing itself, and into the trueness of the new and living 
knowledge, which is witnessed here. 

There is a power in Christ, to mortify and overcome sin 
in the very root ; it is not however overcome, but in the 
revealing of this power ; nor is the soul justified, but in 
and by the working of this power. So that, justification 
is not the first thing, but the power of life, in and through 
which (revealed in Christ) the soul is both justified and 
sanctified, through the v/orking of the faith, which is from 
jthe power. And here, salvation is felt nigh indeed, to 
those that truly fear the Lord ; and glory dwells in the 
land which he hath redeemed. There, mercy and truth 
do indeed meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss 
each other. Yea, truth, there, springs out of the earth, and 
righteousness looks down from heaven, &c. And here, 
the heavenly place in Christ is sat down in, towards which, 
is the travel of the disciple. For, saith Christ to his dis- 
ciples, " I go to prepare a place," and " I will come again," 
and translate you thither. But, the disciples do not come 
to this place before their travel, or before any works of 
righteousness which God hath wrought in them. 

Therefore, he that will be justified by Him, must abide 
in the faith, where the justification is. The Father justifies 
what is of his own life in the Son, and the Son in his life ; 
and the Son justifies what is of the Father in us, (what is 
of the Father's nature, the Father's spirit, the Father's 
life,) and justifies us from that, by his blood, from which 
we cannot otherwise be justified. O how precious it is, to 
see and feel this in the true light, where the blood of Christ 
cleanseth from all sin ! Here, is no covenant for us of 



56 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

ourselves to perform ; but the true self-denial is witnessed, 
wherein the covenant is performed ; and Christ, the life, 
Christ, the power, Christ, the righteousness and wisdom of 
God, working all in us ; and we, gathered into him, and 
living and working in him, by the faith w^hich is of him. 
And here, is free-ivill indeed, even of the will which was 
bound and captivated before. And here, is the election 
known, which obtains ; and tJie obedience and sufferings of 
Chrisf, not looked upon as superfluous, but highly prized, 
and looked upon as of inestimable value. 

Do we cry up works against the workman ? man's grace 
and righteousness against God's? conformity to Christ, 
against Christ? or make a Christ, a righteousness, a 
Saviour of our conformity ? Oh ! how wilt thou do, vvhen 
God shall plead with thee for these things ? — Also, that 
charge of thine on us, that we deny the person of Christ, 
and make him nothing but a light or notion, a principle 
in the heart of man, is very unjust and untrue; for, we 
own that appearance of him in his body of flesh, his suf- 
ferings and death, and his sitting at the Father's right 
hand in glory : but then, we affirm, that there is no true 
knowledge of him, or union with him, but in the seed or 
principle of his life in the heart ; and that therein he ap- 
pears, subdues sin, and reigns over it, in those that under- 
stand and submit to the teaching and government of his 
Spirit. 

But, we cannot set the manhood above the life, and 
make that the main or chief in the work of redemption, 
and the life and Spirit of his Godhead, but supporting, 
enabling, and carrying him up in that great undertaking. 

Consider, I pray thee, if what thou sayest be not con- 
trary to the Scriptures ? Was the work laid by the Father 
upon the manhood, or upon the Son, who, in the life and 
by the life, was " mighty to save '^ ? Who took up the 
manhood f Was it not the 8on f " Lo ^ I come," saitb 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 57 

he, "a body hast thou prepared meJ^ And was it not he, 
that laid down his glory, and made himself of no reputa- 
tion, but came in the form of a servant, (took upon him 
man's nature,) did not he do the work in man's nature ? 
Did not the eternal Spirit sanctify the body in the womb ? 
Did not the eternal Power act in him all along ? Yea, did 
not the eternal Spirit offer the body to God as a sacrifice ? 
For, the manhood would fain have avoided the cup, 
(" Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me ! ") 
but, the Spirit taught him to be subject to the will of the 
Father herein. So that, his giving up to death, was rather 
to be attributed to his eternal Spirit, than to his manhood : 
for that was the chief in the work, and not merely assistant 
to him. And doth not Christ confess as much to his 
Father, when he saith, " I have glorified thee on the earth, 
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do ; and 
now, O Father ! glorify thou me with thy own self, with 
the glory which I had with thee before the world was." 
Though we are willing to honour the manhood of Christ, 
with the lionour which the Father hath honoured it with ; 
yet we cannot honour it in the first place, and attribute 
redemption to it in the first place, making the Spirit and 
life of God, but supporting, assisting, and carrying on 
therein. For, " God was in Christ," and it was his power, 
life, and virtue, did all in him, as it is a measure of the 
same life which doth all in us ; in which measure, we par- 
take of his death, and not only so, but also of his life and 
resurrection. For, he is " the resurrection and the life," 
(which we cannot deny,) and if by his death we be recon- 
ciled to God, " much more shall we be saved by his life." 
And, if righteousness be revealed in us, imputed to us, 
and we partake of it, as we come into his death ; much 
more shall we partake of it, as we come into his life. 

It is precious, indeed, to hear of Christ without ; but it 
is more precious to feel him within ; where the wisdom of 



58 LETTEP.S OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

our Solomon, his love, bis riches, his treasures of life, 
and the glory of his kingdom, and order of his family, and 
food of his children and of his servants, are witnessed and 
revealed on his holy mountain ; where he makes the feast 
of fat things to his, where the bread and wine of the king- 
dom is ate and drunk abundantly, and the streams of the 
river of his own pleasures, water his garden and refresh 
his heritage. 

I have looked over all the Scriptures quoted by thee, 
and find not one of them proving the thing thou as- 
sertest ; that is, attributing redemption properly to the 
manhood, and consequently improperly, in the second 
place, only as an assistant, to the Spirit and life of the 
Godhead. But, if thou wouklst rightly distinguish, it 
were more proper to make the Word, (or Life, which was 
in the beginning,) the agent, which did all ; and that 
body, which the Father prepared and sanctified — the 
form of a servant or garment, in and through which the 
life, being clothed with it, did act. Now, the Jews did 
disdain Christ, as a man, in that his low appearance: 
therefore is the glory still given to " the man Christ 
Jesiis ; " but, not to take the honour from the Son, who 
was God, and who saved by his Godhead, by the life, 
virtue, and power thereof. " I, even I, am the Lord," 
saith Jehovah, '^ and besides me there is no Saviour." 
The Word eternal, which made all, redeemeth all that are 
redeemed : that body of flesh was that wherein he appeared. 
And so, what he did in it was attributed to his manhood, 
(and the man Christ Jesus did all that is attributed to him 
in the Scriptures,) but not in the first place. — Thus I 
speak for thy sake, and sometimes, upon necessity, to help 
to scatter the darkness which is seated in men's minds in 
this particular, which is very gross; many men having 
heaped unto themselves dark mountains, from their own 
imaginings and conceiviags, upon which they stumble : and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 59 

SO, reading the Scriptures out of the pure life, wherein 
they were written, they gather not the true food, but food 
of their own imagining and inventing therefrom ; and so, 
their table becomes their snare. 

And whereas, thou chargest us with making Christ only 
a pattern, not a Saviour — indeed, it is not so in God's 
sight : for, we own Christ to be a Saviour ; but we lay the 
main stress upon the life, which took upon it the manhood. 
And that life, wherever it appears, is of a saving nature, 
and doth save ; the least measure of it, is of the nature of 
the rock, and he proves a rock to them that feel him, and 
whose minds are stayed upon him : yet none, in the meas- 
ure of this life, can deny the appearance of the fulness of 
life in that body of flesh, and what he did therein towards 
the redemption and salvation of mankind. 

Oh ! pure, spotless Lamb of God, how precious was thy 
sacrifice in the eye of the Father ! how acceptable a ran- 
som for all mankind ! For, in the free, full, and universal 
love of the Father, " he tasted death for every man." 

LP. 



LETTER XVIIL 

On the Keligions Care of Children. 
To A Parent. . 

Dear Friend, — I have not much freedom to write at 
present, being retired in spirit and mourning to my God, 
for the powerful bringing forth of his pure life, yet more 
perfectly, both in myself and others ; yet, the spirit of thy 
letter doth so strongly draw, that I cannot be wholly silent. 

Thi.s, therefore, in the uprightness, fear, and tenderness 
of my heart, I say to thee. 



60 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

There is a pure principle of life in the heart, from \vhence 
all good springs. This, thou art to mind in thyself; and 
this, thou art to wait on the Lord, to be taught and ena- 
bled by him to reach to, in thy children ; that thou may est 
be an instrument in his hand, to bring them into that fear 
of him, which is acceptable to him, and will be profitable 
to them. Mind, therefore, its leadings in thy heart, and 
wait to be acquainted with its voice there. And, when 
thy children ask thee any questions of this nature, — What 
God is ? where he dwells ? or whether he sees them in the 
dark ? — do not rej ect it ; but, wait to feel somewhat of 
God raised in thee, w^hich is able to judge, whether the 
question be put forth in sensibility or in vanity ; and which 
can give thee an advantage of stirring the good, and reach- 
ing to that, which is to be raised both in young and old, 
to live to the praise of him who raiseth it. And, take heed 
of a judgment after the flesh; for so, thou mayest judge 
us, our principles and practices, and approve or disapprove, 
&c. But, wait to feel that raised in thee, w^hich judges 
righteous judgment in every particular ; and wait the time 
of its judgment, and be still and silent, further than mani- 
festly thou knowest that it, and not thou, judgeth. 

And, as to thy children, daily feel the need of instruc- 
tion from the Almighty, to govern and direct them, and 
wait daily to receive it from him ; and what thou receiv- 
est, give forth in fear, and wait for his carrying it home 
and working it upon their hearts. For he is a Father, and 
hath tenderness, and gives true wisdom to every condition 
of his people, that wait upon him ; so as he may be known 
to be all daily, and they able to be nothing without him. 

Breathe unto the Lord, that thy heart may be single, 
thy judgment set straight by his principle of life in thee, 
and thy children guided to, and brought up in the sense 
of the same principle. As for praying, they will not need 
to be taught that outwardly ; but, if a true sense be kin- 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOlSr. 61 

died in tbem, though ever so young, from that sense will 
arise breathings to Him that begat it, suitable to their 
state ; which will cause growth and increase of that sense 
and life in them. 

Thus, in the plainness of my heart, have I answered 
thee, according to the drawings and freedom which I found 
there, which I dare not exceed ; who am thy unfeigned 
Friend, though outwardly unknown, I.- P. 

20th of Third Month, 1665. 



LETTEK XIX. 

A Day of Calamity. 



To A Friend in London; supposed to be written on 

OCCASION OF THE PlAGUE. 

Ah Friend, — Dreadful is the Lord : it is now known 
and felt, beyond what can be spoken. Doth thy heart 
fear before him ? art thou willing to be subject to him ? 
dost thou desire strength from him, to trust thyself and 
thy family with him ? O that thou may est be helped daily 
to cry unto him, that he may have mercy upon thee, who 
is tender-hearted and able to preserve, when his arrows fly 
round about ! 

Retire, deeply retire, and wait to feel his life ; that thy 
soul may be gathered out of the reasonings and thoughts 
of thy mind, into that which stays from them, and fixes 
beneath them ; where the Lord is known and worshipped, 
in that which is of himself, of his own begetting, of his 
own forming, of his own preserving, of his own shutting 
and opening at his pleasure. And, living in the sense and 
pure fear of the Lord, (not meddling to judge others or 
justify thyself, but waiting for his appearance in thee, who 



62 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

is the justifier and justification,) thou wilt be enabled by 
the Lord, in his seasons, to bring thy children and family 
into the same sense; that thou and they together may 
enjoy the same preservation from him, so far as he sees 
meet, whose will is not to be limited, but to be subjected 
to. 

And, if thy heart be right before the Lord, and thy soul 
awakened and preserved in his fear, thou wilt find some- 
what to travel out of, and somewhat to travel into, and 
the Lord drawing and leading thee. And this stroke, 
which is so dreadful to others, nor altogether without 
dread to thee, will prove of great advantage in thy behalf: 
in drawing thee more into a sense and acquaintance of 
the infinite One, and in drawing thee from thy earthly 
thoughts and knowledge which will not now stand thee 
instead. Thy Friend, I. P. 

8th of Seventh Month, 1665. 



LETTER XX. 

The Spiritual Life is to be Cherished. 
To Fjriends of Teuth in and about the two Chalfonts. 

Dear Friends, — I am separated, as to bodily presence, 
from you ; but, I cannot forget you, because ye are written 
on my heart, and I cannot but desire your peace and wel- 
fare, as of my own soul. 

And this is my present cry for you. O that ye might 
feel the breath of life, that life which at first quickened 
you, and which still quickeneth ! and that breath of life 
has power over death ; and, being felt by you, will bow 
doAvn death in you, and ye will feel the seed, lifting up its 
head over that which oppresseth it. Why should the 



LETTEBS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 63 

royal birth be a captive in any of you ? Why should any 
of you travail and not bring forth? Why should sin 
have domiiiion in any of you, and not rather grace reign 
in its life and power in you all ? O that ye may receive 
quickenings ! O that ye may receive help ! O that ye 
may be led into the true subjection, which brings forth 
the true dominion ! Indeed, I cry for my own soul, and 
I cry for yours also, that in one virtue and power of life, 
we may be knit together, and serve the Lord our God in 
perfect unity of spirit. 

My Friends, what shall I say unto you ? Oh ! the Lord 
keep you living and sensible, and let your walking and 
converse be with him, both in private and in your assem- 
blings ; be serious in your spirits, that ye may feel the 
weight of his seed springing up in you, and resting upon 
you, to poise your hearts towards him. And let the 
earthly thoughts, desires, and concerns, which eat like a 
canker, be kept out by the power of that life, which is 
yours, as ye abide in covenant with him that hath gath- 
ered you, by his pure light shining in you. O that ye 
may all dwell, there 1 and not draw back into the earthly 
nature, where the enemy lies lurking to entangle and to 
catch your minds, and bring you to a loss. 

Feel my love and tender care of you in the quickening 
life of God ; and the Lord God watch over you for good, 
to perfect his work in you, and draw your hearts nearer 
and nearer to himself, until they be quite swallowed up 
of him ; that ye may at last find your hearts fitted for, 
and welcomed into, the bosom of your Beloved, and there 
may sit down in the rest and joy of his fulness for ever- 
more ; which is the blessed end of the Lord's love to yon, 
and all the faithful travails w^hich have been for you. 

Your Friend and brother in the Truth, I. P. 

From my place of confinement in Aylesbury, 
26th of Fourth Month, 1666. 



64 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

Even when ye were sitting together, waiting on the Lord 
(some of you, I doubt not,) did these things spring up in 
my heart towards you ; and if ye taste any sweetness or 
refreshment in them, bow to the Fountain, and be sensible 
of his praise springing in the midst of you. 



LETTEE XXL 



On True Judgment, and on Prejudices; also on the variety of 
Gifts and Stations in the Church. 

To Friexds of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts.* 

As a father watcheth over his children, so do I wait and 
desire to feel the Lord watching over my soul continually. 
And in his love, care, wise and tender counsel, is my 
safety, life, and peace; and I never yet repented either 
waiting for him or hearkening to him. But if I have 
hearkened at any time to any thing else, and mistook his 
voice, and entertained the enemy's deceitful appearance, 
instead of his pure Truth, (which it is very easy to do,) 
that grievous mistake hath proved matter of loss and 
sorrow to my soul. 

Now, O ! my Friends, that ye might know and hear the 
voice of the Preserver ! so shall ye be preserved, and kept 
from the voice of the stranger, which draweth aside from 
the pure principle of life, and the true feeling sense. 
There is that near you which watcheth to betray : O ! the 
God of my life, joy, peace, and hope, watch over your 
souls, and deliver you from the advantages which, at any 
time, it hath against any of you. The seed which (rod 

* I. P. and his wife appear to have been instrumental in gath- 
ering tlie Friends of that neighbourhood to the knowledge of the 
Truth, as held by the Society. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINOTOlSr. 65 

hath sown in you, is pure and precious. O that it may 
be found living in you and ye abiding in it! O that no 
other seed may, at any time, usurp authority over it ! but 
that ye may know the authority and pure Truth which is 
of God, and therein stand, in the pure dominion, over all 
that is against him. For, in the principle of life, which 
ye have known and received in measure, is dominion ; and 
ye, therein preserved, are in the dominion over the impure 
and deceitful one ; and that judging in you hath power to 
judge all impurity and deceivableness, as the light there- 
of pleaseth to make it manifest to you ; but, out of that^ 
ye will easily become a prey, and set up darkness for light, 
and account light darkness ; and then, a wrong wisdom^ 
confidence, and conceitedness, will get up in you, and lead 
you far out of the way and spirit of Truth. O my dear 
Friends ! that that may be kept down in you, which is for- 
ward to judge, to approve or disapprove ; and may the 
weighty judgment of the seed be waited for. And, O ! do 
not judge, do not judge, before the light of the day shine 
in you, and give forth the judgment; but stand and walk 
in fear and humility, and tenderness of spirit, and silence 
of flesh, that the Lord be not provoked against any of 
you, to give you up to a wrong sense and judgment, to the 
hurt of your souls. And mind your own states, and the 
feeling of life in your own vessels ; which will keep you 
pure, precious, and chaste in the eye of the Lord. And, 
O ! do not meddle with talking about others, which eats 
out the inward life, and may exalt your spirits out of your 
place, and above your proper growth : be as the weaned 
child, simple, naked, meek, humble, tender ; easily led by, 
and subjected to the Father : so will ye grow in that which 
is of God, and be preserved out of that, which hunteth 
after the pure life to betray and destroy it. I have an 
interest in you, my cries are to the Lord for you, and I 
exceedingly thirst after your preservation and growth ia 
6* E 



66 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

that which is pure ; and in that breathing, longing spirit 
towards you, was it in my heart at this time to write unto 
you. 

The Lord God of my mercies, hope and life, watch over 
you for good, and keep your hearts in the pure and single 
watch ; that the enemy, by any subtle device of his, break 
not in upon you ; nor ye, by any temptation, be allured or 
drawn from the Lord ; but, may know the pure, eternal, 
everlasting habitation, and may dwell and abide therein, 
to the joy of your own souls, and the rejoicing of the 
hearts of all that have travailed for you in the Spirit of 
the Lord. 

From your brother and companion in the faith, patience, 
and afflictions of the seed. I. P. 

Aylesbury Prison, 
25th of Eleventh Month, 1666. 



POSTSCRIPT. 

Thus, feel after that which hath gathered you to the 
Lord ; and then also, in that, ye will feel the life, fresh- 
ness, and glory in the Lord, of those, who have been made 
instrumental to gather you, and are still serviceable in his 
hand and leadings, to build you up ; and then, that which 
is ready to hearken to and receive prejudices, will be kept . 
down, and the pure life will live over it, which he that 
feels has joy, and peace, and rest in God. 

And, Friends, you that are weak, bless God for the 
strong ; you that have need of a pillar to lean upon, bless 
God, that hath provided pillars in his house ; and, in fear 
and the guidance of his Spirit, make; use of these pillars; 
who are faithful, and have ability from God, in his power 
and glorious presence with them, to help to sustain his 
building, even as they had ability from the Lord to gather 
unto him. He that despiseth him that is sent, despiseth 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 



67 



Him that sent him ; and he that undervalues any gift, 
office, or work, that God hath bestowed upon any person, 
despiseth the wisdom and disposal of the Giver. Are all 
fathers ? have all overcome the enemy ? are all grown up 
in the life ? are all stars in the firmament of God's power ? 
hath God made all equal ? are there not different states, 
different degrees, different growths, different places, &c. ? 
Then, if God hath made a difference, and given degrees 
of life, and gifts different, according to his pleasure; what 
wisdom and spirit is that, which doth not acknowledge 
this, but would make all equal ? O my Friends ! fear 
before the Lord ; honour the Lord in his appearances, and 
in the differences which he hath made among the children 
of men, and among his people. He gave prophets of old, 
and the rest of the people were not equal with them. He 
gave evangelists, apostles, pastors, teachers, &c., and the 
other members of the churches were not equal with them. 
He hath given fathers and elders now, and the babes and 
young men are not equal with them. Thus it is, in truth, 
from the Lord ; and that which is of God in you, will so 
acknowledge it. 

Therefore, watch, every one, to feel and know his own 
place and service in the body, and to be sensible of the 
gifts, places, and services of others ; that the Lord may be 
honoured in all, and every one owned and honoured in 
the Lord, and no otherwise. I. P. 

26th of Eleventh Month, 1666. 



LETTER XXIL 

To a Couple about to Marry. 

Dear Friends, — It is a great and weighty thing that 
ye are about ; and ye have need of the Lord's leading and 



68 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 

counsel therein, that it may be done in the unity of his 
life ; that so Friends in truth may feel it to be of God, 
and find satisfaction therein. 

Friends, the affectionate part will be forward in things 
of this nature, unless it be yoked down ; and it will per- 
suade the mind to judge such things to be right and of the 
Lord, when indeed they are not so, Now, if it be not of 
the Lord, but the affectionate part, Friends cannot have 
unity with it, nor w^ill it prove a blessing to you ; but you 
will find it an hurt to your conditions, and a load upon 
your spirits afterwards, and the fruits and effects of it will 
not be good, but evil; and then, perhaps, ye will wish that 
ye had waited more singly and earnestly upon the Lord, 
in relation to the thing ; and that ye had taken more time, 
and consulted more with Friends, before there had been 
any engagement of affections. The Lord, by his provi- 
dence, hath given you a little time of respite. O retire 
unto him, and abase yourselves before him, and pray him 
to counsel you, by his good Spirit, for your good ! that, if 
it be not of the Lord, the power, being waited upon by 
you, may loosen your affections in this respect. But, if it 
be of the Lord, and be orderly brought before Friends, 
and their counsel and advice sought in the fear of the 
Lord, they will have unity with it, and with gladness ex- 
press their unity; which may be a strength unto you, 
against the tempter afterwards. 

This is in true love to you, and in singleness of heart, 
the Lord knoweth. From your Friend in the Truth, 

I. P. 

4th of Third Month, 1668. 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 69 



LETTEE XXIII. 

The day of God's Power and Love. 
To John Mannock. 

FpvIEND, — Hath the Lord drawn thy heart to hear the 
sound of Truth, and given thee some sense and savour thereof; 
though, perhaps, not as yet full satisfaction in all things 
that are truly and faithfully testified concerning it? O 
prize this love of God to thee ! and watch and pray, and 
come into the pure fear ; that thou mayest v/alk worthy 
of it, and mayst discern in spirit what it is that gives thee 
the savour ; and so, receive the leaven of the kingdom 
and feel its leavening virtue upon thy heart day by day. 
For, after the Lord hath been at v\^ork, the enemy will be 
at work also ; and thou mayest both meet with him with- 
out, and within too, in reasonings and questionings against 
the demonstrations of God's Spirit to thy heart and con- 
science. Now, if thou wilt hearken to these, they will eat 
out the sense and belief of what God's Spirit begat in 
thee. Oh ! how many wise men, and how many knowing 
men, that have tasted of some true experiences, have not 
the sense and discerning of the Spirit and power of the 
Lord, as it is now made manifest ; but speak hard words, 
and think hard thoughts of his truth and its precious 
appearances. 

Ah ! what are we, any of us, on whom the Lord hath 
shown his mercy, and whose hearts he toucheth, and 
maketh sensible of his drawings ; yea, and not only so, but 
also gives us to partake of the eternal life and virtue, which 
he hath hid in his Son from the eyes of all living. We 
sought it up and down, in the deeps and heights ; but the 
deep said. It is not in me, and the highest mountain and 



70 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

hill that ever we met with, could not bring salvation to us. 
But, at length, we found the fear of the Lord to be the 
true wisdom, and that which taught us to depart from evil, 
gave us the true understanding. Now, if any among us 
are not thus taught, but only own the doctrines of Truth 
published among us, being thereunto overcome by the de- 
monstration of God's Spirit ; yet, for all this, they are not 
felt by us in the life and unity of the Spirit of the Lord 
with us ; and such, the Lord will manifestly prune off, in 
his own due time, and graft in others in their stead. Yea, 
such as do indeed give up to Truth, and in measure feel 
the power of it, and are made by the power of the Lord 
subject to it — yet, if in anything they let in the spirit of 
the world, and act according thereto, so far, they are not 
of the Truth, nor owned by it. 

Now, dear Friend, (for, so far as thy heart is touched 
by God's Spirit, and answereth thereto, thou art dear unto 
me,) mind thy condition, and wait on the Lord in humil- 
ity of heart, and in subjection to what he inwardly, by his 
Spirit, daily makes manifest ; that thou mayest come into 
the obedience of the Truth daily ; that thou mayest daily 
feel the change, which is wrought in the heart and con- 
science, by the holy, eternal, ever-living power ; that so 
thou mayest witness, according to the Scriptures, "that 
which is born of the Spirit, is spirit." And then thou wilt 
feel, that this birth of the Spirit cannot fulfil the lusts of 
ihe flesh, but will be warring and fighting the good fight 
of faith, in the power of life, against them ; and thus, in 
faithfulness to the Truth, and waiting upon the Lord, thou 
siialt witness an overcoming in his due time. For, indeed, 
the true faith overcomes, the true shield beats down the 
most fiery darts, and, in the power of the Lord, the enemy 
is so resisted, that he fleeth ; and the name of the Lord is, 
indeed, a strong tower to his children, to which his seed 
know how to retire and feel safety. 



LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGT0:N'. 71 

O the coiiqueriDg faith, the overcoming life and power 
of the Spirit ! We cannot but speak of those things ; and 
cry up the perfect gift, and the power of Him, who is not 
only able to perfect his work in the heart, but delights so 
to do ; and even to tread down Satan under the feet of 
those, that w^ait in patience for the perfect conquest; 
for, nothing else will fully satisfy. The rest, the peace, 
the liberty, the life, the virtue of the gospel, is not fully 
known and enjoyed, while there remains any sin to sting 
and trouble. And this I can faithfully witness ; that when 
the power is revealed, when the blood washeth, the soul is 
clean and as white as snow ; and the enemy hath not power 
to break in, but life triumphs over him. And why may 
there not be a continuance of such a state? Yea, I verily 
believe, many can witness a continuance of such a state ; 
which the Spirit of the Lord doth not call less in them 
than a perfect state, a sound state ; wherein Christ, the 
heavenly Physician, hath healed them perfectly, and made 
them witnesses of true soundness of soul and spirit in the 
sight of God. O that all knew and enjoyed it, who truly 
desire and long after it ! 

But as for thee, this is in my heart to thee. Thou hast 
found the pearl ; the Lord, in mercy to thee, hath discov- 
ered to thee the true pearl. Now, this remains ; that thou 
be a wise merchant, selling all to purchase it. Thou must 
keep back nothing. Christ, the living Truth, the holy 
power of righteousness, must be dearer to thee than all. 
If father, mother, livelihood, liberty, friendship, outward 
advantages, &c., or anything else, be dearer to thee than 
him, he will look upon thee as unworthy of him ; and can- 
not but turn from thee, and sufier hardness and darkness 
to come again upon thee. Therefore, prize the day of thy 
visitation from the holy God, from the God of mercy and 
salvation ; and be faithful in the little, in the day of small 
things, if ever thou desire to enjoy and be ruler over much. 



72 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

The Lord may exercise thee in, and require of thee, little 
things ; as he hath done the^^est of the flock, whose foot- 
steps thou art to follow to the Shepherd's tents ; and the 
enemy will be endeavouring to stop thee, and perplex thee, 
in every little thing that the Lord requires of thee. But, 
be thou simple, like a child, not taking care what to an- 
swer wise professors, nor what to answer the reasoning of 
thy own mind ; but, seeing thou hast felt the demonstra- 
tion of Truth from God's Holy Spirit, O ! breathe unto 
the Lord, to preserve thee in the innocency and simplicity 
thereof, that the Lord may still be with thee ; and thereby 
bring thee through the day of Jacob's trouble, to taste of 
Jacob's deliverance and salvation out of trouble : for, thou 
must meet with trials as well as others have done, and 
the enemy's endeavour will be, to make thee stumble and 
start back in the day of trial. But, if thine eye be towards 
the Lord, he will uphold and strengthen thee, and bring 
thee through all that stands in thy way ; manifesting to 
thee, daily more and more, the path of holiness, in which 
the ransomed of the Lord walk, and enabling thee also to 
v/alk therein. 

Therefore, watch the thoughts and reasonings which rise 
in thee, and retire from them, waiting to feel the pure seed, 
and to hear its voice in stillness ; whose voice is otherwise, 
than after the noises of the questionings and reasonings, 
w^hich the enemy raiseth in the mind, to fill it with doubts 
and troubles; and to weaken the faith and sense which 
God wrought in the heart, when he reached forth his 
Truth, in the power and demonstration of his Spirit, unto 
it. This was God's love, this was the day of his power ; 
which loosens the mind from its lovers, and the ways of 
its own choosing, and begets a willingness to be joined to 
the Lord and his pure Truth. 

O take heed of hearkening to the enemy, to the subtle 
reasoner, the entangler of the soul ! take heed of consult- 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PE^^i:^raTO]^. 73 

ing there, where he lays his baits to entangle the mind, 
and undo the work of God's power in the heart ; and so, to 
make unwilling again, after the Lord had made willing. 
The steps which the soul takes in the power, even the 
inclining of the mind towards the Lord and his pure Truth, 
tend to salvation ; but, if any let in unbelief of those things, 
concerning which God had wrought faith in them, they 
draw back to perdition ; they hearken to that which tempts 
from the Lord, and to him whose end is to destroy them. 

This is in true love to thee, and from an upright desire, 
that thou mayest feel the Lord's preservation of thy soul, 
in that which is of him, and his separating thee from all 
that is not of him. 

From a Friend to all that breathe after the Lord, and 
desire to know and partake of the power and life of Truth 
as it is in Jesus,, the alone Redeemer and Saviour* of the 
soul. L P. 

3d or 4th of Tenth Month, 1668. 



LETTEE XXIV. 

On Simplicity of Faith and Dedication. 

To John Mannock. 

Friend, — It is a wonderful thing, to witness the power 
of God reaching to the heart, and demonstrating to the 
soul the pure way to life, as in his sight and presence. 
Surely, he that partakes of this, is therein favoured Uy the 
Lord, and ought diligently to wait, for the giving up to 
the leadings of his Holy Spirit in everj thing ; that so, he 
may travel through all that is contrary to the Lord, into 
that nature and spirit which is of Him. It is a wonderful 
tiling, also, to witness God's preservation from backsliding, 
7 



74 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTOX. 

and from being entangled by the subtlety of the enemy ; 
who hath many ways and taking devices to ensnare the 
simple mind, and draw it from the sense of Truth, into 
some notions and belief of things ; wherein the soul may 
be lulled asleep with hopes and persuasions, but hath not 
the feeling or enjoyment of the true life and power. 

O Friend ! hast thou a sense of the way to the Father ? 
then, be careful that thy spirit daily bow before him, and 
wait for breathings to him from his pure Spirit, that he 
w^ould continue his mercy to thee ; keeping thee in the true 
sense, and making thy way more and more clear before 
thee every day ; — yea, and bearing thee up in all the exer- 
cises and trials which may befall thee, in every kind ; that, 
by his secret working in thy spirit, and helping thee with 
a little help from tijue to time, thou mayest still be advanc- 
ing nearer and nearer towards the kingdom ; until thou 
find the Lord God administer an entrance unto thee there- 
into, and give thee an inheritance of life, joy, righteous- 
ness, and peace therein ; — which is strength unto th^ soul 
against sin and death, and against the sorrow and trouble 
which ariseth in the mind, for want of God's presence and 
holy power revealed there. 

And, be not careful after the flesh, but trust the Lord. 
What though thou art weak, and little ; though thou meet 
with those that are wise and knowing ; and almost every 
way able to reason thee down ; what though thou hast not 
wherewith to answer ; yet, thou knowest and hast the feel- 
ing of God's pure Truth in spirit, with a desire to have 
the life of it brought forth in thee, and so, to witness the 
change and renewings which are by his power. O dear 
heart ! herein thou art accepted of the Lord, and here his 
tender love and care will be over thee, and his mercy will 
daily reach to thee ; and thou shalt have true satisfaction 
in thy heart, and hold the Truth there, where all the* 
reasonings of men, and all the devices of the enemy of thy 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 75 

soul, shall not be able to reach ; — yea, thou shalt so feel 
the Lord to help his babe against the strength of the 
mighty, in the seasons of his good pleasure, as shall ex- 
ceedingly turn to his praise ; and so, thou shalt experience, 
that whom God preserves, all the gates of hell shall not 
be able to prevail against. Therefore, look not out at 
men, or at the words and wisdom of men ; but, keep where 
thou hast felt the Lord visit thee, that he may visit thee 
yet again and again, every day, and be teaching thee 
further and further the way to his dwelling-place, and be 
drawing thee thither, where is righteousness, life, rest, and 
peace, forever ! 

This arose in my heart this morning, in tender love 
towards thee. Look up to the Lord, who can make it 
useful to thee, to warm, quicken, and strengthen thy heart 
and mind towards the Lord, and his pure Truth, where- 
with he has visited thee. And if thou feel any thing 
therein, suitable to the state and condition of thy soul, O 
bow, before the Lord! that in the true humility thou 
raayest confess, and give the glory to him of what belongs 
to him. 

From thy Friend in the Truth, which cleanseth the 
heart from iniquity, as it is embraced and dwelt in. 

LP. 

23d of Tenth month, 1668. 



LETTER XXV. 

The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's Sake. 

To Elizabeth Walmsley. 

Dear Friend, — Who art lovely to me in that precious 
life, wherewith the Lord hath visited thee, and wherein 



7b LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

he hath brought thee forth for his service, and to his 
praise. 

Our Father is wise and powerful, who hath begun a 
work which he is able to carry on ; and all the briars and 
thorns of the vrilderness, are not able to stop his course, 
who is " a consumino: fire." 

I find the spirits of Friends here much raised, who 
dwell in the fear and dread of the Lord God Almighty, 
where the fear and dread of man is removed far away. 
The Lord preserve us near unto himself, out of that which 
separates from him and weakens ; and nothing shall be 
able to interrupt our joy in the Lord, nor our delight and 
pleasure in his wdll. Lo ! I come, saith the child, to do 
thy will, O God ! to drink the cup thou hast prepared ; 
although there is a nature which cannot but say, If it be 
possible, let it pass away ; but, that nature is bowed down 
and subjected under its proper yoke, and, in submission, 
is kept out of sinning against the Lord ; and is accepted 
by him who bows it, and makes it willing to follow the 
Lamb in the day of his power. 

Truly, the Lord hath done great things for us I he hath 
given us the sight and knowledge of himself in his Son, 
which is life eternal : he hath given us of the nature and 
spirit of his Son ; he hath given us of the true faith, where- 
by the just lives, and obtains victory over sin, death, and 
the grave ; he hath given us of the hope which purifies 
the heart, and stays the mind in all storms ; he hath given 
us of the Lamb's patience and meekness, &c. And now, 
if he will brighten these by afflictions, and try them, and 
cause them to shine to his glory ; yea, and take advantage 
to increase them, and add further virtue to them, what 
cause have any of us to complain ? Israel, of old, after 
the flesh, murmured upon every trial ; but Israel, after 
the new creation, doth not so, but blesseth the Lord, and 
repineth not at the instruments which he permitteth to 



T.ETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 77 

afflict tliem ; but they love the Lord and love his Truth, 
and are faithful in their testimony thereto, whatever be- 
falls them. Yea, they rejoice that they are counted worthy 
to suffer in any kind for his name's sake, and are like 
lambs before the shearers, not opening their mouths in a 
way of murmuring or reviling ; but instead thereof, pity- 
ing them, praying for them, and blessing ; because God 
hath made them children of love, children of peace, chil- 
dren of blessing ; which nature they retain, in the midst 
of all their trials and afflictions, and show forth the virtues 
of Him that hath called them. 

So that, men shall not put out our life, nor put out our 
light, nor sever us from the love and power of God ; but, 
the more need we find of our God, and of his help and 
strength, the nearer shall we be driven to him, and dwell 
more closely in union with him, and in holy and humble 
dependence upon him. And, in this temper, shall we 
draw and receive more from him : and the more we draw 
from him, the better will it be with us, and the more like 
him shall we be. 

The Lord keep open that heavenly eye in his children 
and servants, which looks over this world, with the affliirs 
and concerns thereof, to that which is immortal and invisi- 
ble ; where our life is hid from others, though made mani- 
fest in and felt by us, from the living spring which 
quickens, nourish eth, and refresheth. And as afflictions 
abound from men, so shall consolations, life, and strength 
abound from the Lord, unto all, and upon all, who look 
not out, but abide and await there, where it springs and 
flows. 

My dear love is to Friends in these parts, (particularly 
M. O.) ; the Lord preserve them and keep them near to 
himself, that they may receive counsel and strength from 
him, according to their need. I am sensible of thy great 
love to us, expressed in thy care and tenderness of our 
7* 



78 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

child, as well as in other things : I hope she is no burden 
to thee. O that she might feel and be guided by that, 
which keeps in order all that are subject to it ! 

I remain thy Friend and brother, in the life and love 
which never dies nor changes, I. P. 

ISth of Second month, 1670. 



LETTER XXVI. 



Exhortation, chiefly, on Eevelation?, xiv. 7, "Fear God, give Glory 
to Him," &c. 

To Widow Hemmixgs. 

Dear FpvIexd, — Since I last saw thee, there have been 
many deep and serious thoughts on my heart concern- 
ing thee ; and a sense of thy state as before the Lord, and 
breathings of heart for thee. I am sensible, that the Spirit 
of the Lord is striving with thee, and in some measure 
opening thy heart towards him and his Truth ; and I am 
sensible withal, that there is much striving against him ; 
and many strong holds of wisdom and reasonings in thee, 
which must be broken down, before Truth can spring up 
in thy heart, and exercise its power in thee, and have full 
command in thee. 

Now, this morning, when I awoke, there were three 
things sprang up in me, which my heart did singly and 
earnestly desire for thee. One was, that thou mightst be 
led by God's Holy Spirit into the new and living cove- 
nant, where Christ is revealed, and the soul united to him 
as its Lord and King, in a bond of indissoluble union. 
Another was, that thou mightst daily be taught of God, 
and learn of him, in this holy, new, pure, and everlasting 
covenant. The third was, that thou miohtst be true and 



LETTEES OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 79 

faithful to God, to obey and follow him in whatever he 
teaches and requires of thee. 

If thou wert but in this state, thou wouldst find sweet- 
ness and rest, peace and power, the righteousness of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and life eternal, revealed in thy own 
heart; and with joy draw water out of the wells of salva- 
tion. 

Now, if thou come to witness Christ's appearance in 
spirit, and wilt become a disciple unto him, there are three 
things thou must apply thy heart to learn of him ; which 
indeed are the sum of the gospel, or of what is taught in 
and by the gospel. The first is, to fear God, This is the 
beginning of true heavenly wisdom, and this is the per- 
fection and the end of wisdom also ; for, true wisdom not 
only brings into the fear, but it builds up in the fear, yea, 
and perfects in the fear also; according as the apostle 
saith, " Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." Now, 
this is not such a fear, as man can attain by all he can do ; 
but is the fear of the new covenant, which God puts into 
the he'arts of his children, as he quickens them and brings 
them up in the new covenant. This is such a fear, as that 
those in whom it is placed, cannot depart from the Lord ; 
nor, abiding in it, err from the way of life and holiness; 
for all sin and transgression, all rebellion against the Lord, 
and grieving and quenching his Spirit, is out of this fear. 
O that thou mightst receive this fear from the Lord, and 
grow up unto him daily in it! 

The second, which depends upon and flows from the 
former, is, to give glory to God, in discerning his life and 
power, and the virtue of his Spirit and his grace, working 
all in thee ; and so, still ascribing the glory to him, of all 
thou art, dost, or canst do : for, in the day of the gospel, 
no flesh can glory in the presence of our God ; but, the 
Lord alone is exalted in the spirits of his children, in that 
day. And indeed, as every one comes into the fear of the 



80 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

new covenant, the presence of the Lord is there, dwelling 
in the midst of the heart ; and he is found working all 
therein, and bringing forth the seed of Jife, and working 
down sin, and death, and corruption. And thev that are 
here, feel their own poverty and nothingness, as in them- 
selves ; and that their way to become strong in Christ, is 
first to become weak in themselves : and so, when they 
are strong in him, he who is their strength is glorified and 
admired, and self is of no reputation or value forever and 
ever ; for, that is cleaved to, which brought down self, and 
that power and spirit being cleaved to, still keeps it down. 

The third is, that thou learn to ivorship God in spirit 
and truth. O this worship is precious indeed I and this is 
the only sort of worship which God seeketh and regardeth, 
among th.e many various kinds of worshippers which ap- 
pear at this day. This worship was declared by Christ, 
and taught his disciples ; but it has been in great measure 
dejDarted from ; and though many have sought aiter it, 
yet none ever could find it, but as they have learned of the 
Father to return to the anointing ; and so, to be gathered 
into his Sj^irit, where Christ's name is known, and where 
they that meet together, worship in his name : and, of a 
truth, none know or can worship in Christ's name besides 
these. There have been great mistakes about worship 
and gatherings ; they having not been in the name and 
power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but only in a profession 
thereof, and an imitation of things, without the true life 
and power ; and what is that worship and religion in the 
sight of the Lord? 

Xow, that thou may est come into this state, and learn 
all these lessons of the Lord in the new covenant, there is 
one thing indisjoensably necessary for thee ; which is, to 
know the hour of God's judgment in thy own heart, and to 
lie under the judgment of the Lord, bearing it till he 
finish it, and bring it forth unto victory. For, this is the 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 81 

way whereby he purges and redeems the soul ; to wit, by 
the spirit of judgment and burning. Thou must therefore 
wait for, and come to feel, the Spirit of the Lord near 
thee, discovering sin to thee, and revealing judgment 
against it, and executing his righteous judgment upon the 
evil nature in thee ; that he may raise up that good and 
tender plant of righteousness, out of the dry and barren 
ground, to which his mercy is. 

If thou come to know God's Spirit, and to receive it, 
and feel it work in thee, and its pure light shine from the 
fountain and spring of life, thou wilt have a quicker sense 
and discerning therefrom, than can arise either from words 
written, or from thoughts ; that is, the Lord will show thee 
the way whereof thou doubtest, quicker than a thought 
can arise in thee ; and the Lord will show thee evil, in a 
pure sense of the new nature, quicker than thou canst 
think or consider of any thing. And indeed, this is need- 
ful ; for, sin lodges in the evil nature inwardly, and works, 
not so much by a known law set up in the mind, as by a 
secret nature; and, if it be not resisted and withstood by 
another nature, it can never be overcome. Now, by this 
judgment set up in the heart, doth God overcome and 
keep down sin forever ; for, the judgment of God is stronger 
than sin, and will bring it down, where his judgment is 
received and abode in ; and that which brought it down, 
being kept to, will keep it down ; and, it being kept down, 
life and righteousness, even the righteous life, Spirit, and 
power of the Lord Jesus inwardly revealed, will be upper- 
most, and reign over it. 

Perhaps these words, at present, may be hard unto thee : 
but,. if thou come to wait on God's Holy Spirit, and to the 
feeling of his appearance in thy heart, and learn of him 
to know what is good and what is evil in thy words, ways, 
worship, yea, and in thy very lieart and thoughts, and also 
to choose the good and refuse the evil ; they will grow 

F 



82 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

easier and easier, and plainer and plainer, daily, as thou 
comest into the sense and experience of the things they 
mention. And thou wilt find Christ, inwardly revealed 
in spirit, to be very properly called the Word of God, 
even the ingrafted word which is able to save the soul; 
for he is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- 
edged sword, able to cut down all that shall appear or rise 
up in the heart, to resist or oppose his work. 

The Lord so guide thee, manifest himself to thee, help 
thee, and lead thee by his Holy Spirit and power, as that 
thou mayest come undeniably to experience, and to be sat- 
isfied by him about these things. And mind not so much 
to know, as to be obedient and subjected to the Lord, both 
in thy heart and in thy conversation also, in the least 
thing that he makes manifest. If the Lord would show 
thee but this one thing, — that, to use "thee" and "thou" 
to a particular person, is proper language, and Scripture 
language ; and that, to say " you," is improper, and arose 
from pride, and nourisheth pride, and so is of the w^orld, 
and not of the Father ; and thou should bow thy spirit to 
him in this one thing, thou little thinkest what a work it 
would make within thee, and how strongly the spirit of 
darkness w^ould fight against thy subjection thereto. The 
Lord lead thee as he seeth good, and give thee faithfully 
to follow ; for else, if the Lord should lead in anything, 
and thou not follow in that thing, his Spirit would be 
grieved and vexed thereby, and thy heart in danger of 
being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 

The Lord give thee the sense and savour of these things; 
that thou mayest thereby be kindled to wait on the Lord, 
to be led into the light of the living ; that thou mayest live 
and walk with him therein, who is, and dwells, and walks 
with his, in the light. O house of Jacob ! come ye, let us 
w^alk in the light of the Lord, and let us come up to Zion, the 
holy hill of God, and to the gospel Jerusalem, that there he 



M 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 83 

may teach us of his ways, and we may there learn of him 
to walk ill his paths ; for there, is the place of wisdom and 
true understanding, which none know but those that are 
taught of God. 

This is in true friendship and tender love to thy soul, 
from its Friend in truth and sincerity, I. P. 

26th of Eighth Month, 1670. 



LETTEE XXVIL 

Advice and Sympathy under Trial. 
To Elizabeth Walmsley. 

My very deak Friend,— Many are the trials, afflic- 
tions, and temptations, which the Lord seeth good to exer- 
cise us with, for the purifying and making us white, that 
he may honour his name in us and through us : but this 
promise stands sure in the seed, " I will never leave thee, 
nor forsake thee.'' And, if our God be with us and for us, 
what can prevail against the work and design of his love 
and power towards us ? 

I am deeply sensible of thy condition, feeling it, even in 
the tender and melting love of my heart towards thee ; 
and this word sprang in me to thee. Look not out, but 
trust in the Lord, who can make things easier than they 
seem likely to be ; and will certainly carry his through 
the hardest things, which he sufiers to befall them. 

O ! the Lord keep all in his pure innocency ; out of the 
eartlily contriving wisdom, which saith. Save thyself, avoid 
this dreadful brunt, this stroke of the cross ; which it is 
easy to hearken to, if the mind be not kept to that eye 
and that wisdom, which discavers the tcm})tcr, and instruct- 
eth the bird to esca])e his snare. 



84 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOl^. 

My dear love is to thee, and to all faithful Friends. 
The Lord keep you from hearkening to the enemy, and 
make you faithful to him, in the pure innocency and heav- 
enly wisdom which is of him ; for, Truth triumphs over 
deceit, and the life of the Lamb on the cross, reigns and 
triumphs over death : glory to Him, who hath overcome 
in his person, and who teacheth us to overcome^ through 
faith in his power, — and from the overflowings of the con- 
quering life in our hearts, which first brings down that 
which is contrary to Truth, and then reigns in the Truth. 

Thy Friend in the love w^hich never dies, and in the 
Truth w^hich changes not, I. P. 

Catsgrove, 
14th of Tenth Month, 1670. 



LETTER XXVIIL 

Of Obedience in Confessing Christ ; also on the Light of Christ. 

To Elizabeth Sto:n^aii. 

Dear Friend, — I am sensible that the Lord hath 
visited thee with his power, reaching to thy heart in the 
demonstration of his own Spirit, and that thy heart hath 
answered, and said in the inward of thy soul. It is God's 
Truth indeed. Now, so far as God hath reached to thee, 
so far it behooves thee to confess him, his Truth, and peo- 
ple before men, and to give up in obedience and subjec- 
tion of Spirit to the Lord. And, if thou say, in the sim- 
plicity of thy heart, to any that have any tenderness, 
Thus it is with me ; I believe from my heart this or this is 
of God ; what shall I do ? shall I give up in obedience 
thereto, or shall I disobey the Lord, grieve his Spirit, and 
wound my own soul ? This will reach that which is of 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 85 

God in any ; and this will wound and trouble that which 
is not of God. 

The Lo*rd guide thee, and pity thee, and help thee in 
thy straits, and doubts, and fears, and troubles, both in 
reference to thyself and mother. God is my witness, y/hom 
I serve in my spirit, in the gospel of his Son, that I have 
not sought myself, but your good ; and that, not of my- 
self neither, but in the leadings and drawings of his Holy 
Spirit. And I gave thy husband a warning, in true and 
tender love ; though I knew well enough, how hard it 
would be to his spirit in his present state, and what a bit- 
ter enemy he might become to me, for telling him the 
truth. I did it not unadvisedly, but in the weight of my 
spirit before the Lord; and I heartily wish, that he were 
not deceived in heart concerning his own state, but truly 
knew it, as it is. 

Thy soul's true and sincere-hearted Friend, I. P. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

There is light, which enlightens the soul, or it remains 
in darkness : " Ye were darkness," said the apostle, " but 
now are ye light in the Lord." Now, no man can become 
light in the Lord, unless his nature and spirit be renewed, 
and changed out of darkness into light. Now, the ques- 
tion is, what this light is, and where is it to be met with. 
Are the Scriptures, then, this light? or do they testify of 
this light ? If they testify of this light, then, the light is 
to be come to, and the soul to be enlightened by it. And, 
he that comes to this light, and is enlightened by it, and 
walks in the pure shinings thereof, he becomes a child of 
light ; but, he that is not enlightened and changed by it, 
is yet a child of darkness, notwithstanding whatsoever he 
learns, professeth, or practiscth, by imitation from the 
Scriptures. This is a weighty matter. 
8 



86 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOl!^. 

O come ! be not wedded to your own ways, nor preju- 
diced against what God hath taught others; but let , 
things be fairly scanned, that all things may be proved, 
and that which is good held fast ; for, Truth will not lose 
ground by being tried ; but, darkness is afraid of the 
light, because it has a secret sense, that it cannot stand 
before it. I. P. 

16th of Twelfth Month, 1670. 



LETTER XXIX. 



On the Life, inward Sense, and Power of the Spirit ; also Eespect- 
ing the Scriptures, and the Church, &c. 

To Nathaniel Stonar. 

Dear Friend, — There is somewhat on my heart, to 
express to thee, in love and great good-will, which is as 
followeth. 

Would it not be sad, if thou should perish from the 
Lord forever ? If thou err in heart from the living way, 
it may be so : indeed, if thy mind be not turned from 
darkness, inward darkness, to the inward light of God's 
Spirit, it cannot be otherwise. Now, if thou feel the in- 
ward light, the power of the pure light, and art changed 
thereby, thou canst not speak against that light. 

There was no true religion in the apostles' days, without 
turning to the inward light, and to that the true ministry 
was sent to turn men ; nor is there any true religion now, 
without being inwardly turned to, and walking in the 
same light ; nor canst thou try any truth, or understand 
any Scripture aright, but in the light of God's Spirit. 
No man can understand the things of God, but the Spirit 
of God. The Scriptures are holy words, and treat of the 
things of God, which no man can understand, but in a 



LETTEBS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 87 

light of the same nature from which they came; and, 
• when once a man comes to the true understanding, he soon 
finds that the understanding which he had of the same 
before, was but after the flesh, even short of the nature of 
the true understanding. And, Friend, consider, if thy 
knowledge, which thou hast hitherto had, hath changed, 
or doth change the nature of thy understanding and will? 
or, is thy old understanding and will yet remaining, not- 
withstanding all thy knowledge and practices in religion ? 

do not dally in things of so great concernment, lest 
thou repent too late ! for, I do not tell thee what I see 
concerning thee, in the light of God's eternal Spirit ; but, 

1 would fain have thine own eye, or rather the right eye 
in thee, opened and brought to see. 

And, consider one Scripture seriously concerning the 
church of Laodicea : bad it not the true knowledge out- 
wardly, and a true church state, and right ordinances? 
Did it not believe in Christ, and look up to him for 
justification, &c. Nay, what did it want, as to the out- 
wardness of its state? But, it wanted sense, life, warmth, 
inwardly. So that, if ye had all ordinances and truths 
of the gospel light outwardly ; yet, if ye wanted the in- 
ward power, ye could not but. want the tried gold, the . 
white raiment, and eye-salve : and so, though ye might 
think yourselves rich, &c. yet, the shame of your nakedness 
would a2')pear ; yea, indeed, the nakedness of such as are 
not clothed with God's Spirit, doth appear to the Lord, 
and to the eyes and spirits of his children, which he 
openeth in his own light, and who see with this eye ; — I 
say, the shame of their nakedness doth appear, notwith- 
standing" all the religious covers they can put upon them- 
selves. O that thou hadst desires, living desires, after the 
nature of Truth ! and wert acquainted with the new 
nature, which can be satisfied with nothing but the virtue, 
life, and power of Truth. 



88 LETTERS OE ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

Come, Friend, -svait ou the Lord, to have the old nature, 
the old spirit, mind, Avisdoni, understanding and will, broken, 
— the old garment torn to pieces ; that thou mayest come 
to experience that which is new, pure, and livmg ; and 
find the new vessel filled with that which is new; and 
know the virgin state of spirit, and the savour of the true 
ointnlent. For, life savours life, and death savours death, 
and living words are but the savour of death, to them that 
are out of the life ; and, the living Stone, which is the 
foundation of life to us, and very precious, is but a stone 
of stumbling, and rock of offence, to them that are out of 
the life ; and who judge of things by their apprehensions 
of the letter, without the spirit of life and power. As the 
Scribes and Pharisees formerly did, and so condemned 
Christ in his appearance in the flesh ; those who judge 
after that manner now, cannot but, condemn his spiritual 
ajDj^t-arance in the hearts of his children. The letter 
killeth, the Spirit gives life. It' thou wilt have life, thou 
must come to that which gives life. If thou wilt come 
into the ministration of the new testament, thou must 
come into the' Spirit and power ; and know the letter of 
the Seripttires, in the spirit and pow-er which wrote them, 
if ever thou know them aright. Yea, if thou wilt become 
a son oi God, thou must receive power from Christ so to 
do ; and, if thou wilt believe aright, thou must feel faith 
wrought in thy heart, by that very power, which raised 
our LfOrd Jesus Christ from the dead ; all other faith falls 
short of the nature of true faith. 

If thou receive from the Lord the true sense of these 
things, thou wilt bless his name, for engaging my heart to 
write them to thee ; but, if thou read them, out of that 
which gives the true understanding, they cannot be of 
advantage to thee. But, whatever entertainment they 
have with thee, yet, my judgment is v.ith the Lord, and 
my work and labour of love with my God, who is my 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTO]^. 89 

strength and joy; in whom my soul rests in peace, in the 
bosom of my Beloved.* And. O ! that thou also mightest 
feel quickenings of life and true leadings ; and thus be 
acquainted with that faithful travel, which leads thither. 

Thy Friend, in the heartiness of true love, so far as the 
Lord pleaseth to make use of me towards thee, I. P. 

7th of the Fourth Month, 1671. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

The apostle speaks of the state of the Gentiles, before 
they were turned from darkness to light, and from the 
power of Satan to God ; that their understanding was 
darkened, being alienated from the life of God^ through 
the ignorance that was in them, because of the hardness 
of their heart ; not that that which might be known of 
God, was not manifest in them ; but their ignorance was, 
because of their hardness, in not minding it, not turning 
to it, and so, they became alienated from the life, and their 
understanding not opened by it. 

Now, in this state, men are without God, without Christ, 
strangers to the covenant of promise, and without any 
true hope of salvation ; and this state, they are as really 
in, who get a form of godliness without the power, as the 
very natural heathen. For, nothing makes a true Chris- 
tian, but the life and power: and he, that doth not hear 
the voice of Christ's Spirit in his heart, is no better than 
a heathen and a publican. Yea, any church, built up out 
of the life and power, (nay, a church, though built by the 
power, yet, if not preserved in the same,) is not better 
than a synagogue of Satan. They that say, they are Jews, 
but are not so ; ministers of Christ, but are not, and do 
lie ; alas ! what are they ? O how precious is life ! how 
precious is the power of God, in which the churches of old 
stood, and the true churches at this day stand in ! 
8* 



90 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

It is precious, to know the Spirit of the living Grod, to 
be begotten by him in the life, which is true and pure, to 
be separated from death and the power thereof, and to be 
married to life and the jwwer thereof, — to be married to 
the conqaering Lamb, who triumphed over sin and death 
in his body of flesh, and, by his Spirit and power, delivers 
his spouse from the strength and dominion of them. And, 
it is precious, to walk with the Lamb, and to follow the 
Lamb whithersoever he goes ; who always leads out of sin 
and unrighteousness, into ways of purity and righteous- 
ness, into the path which is prepared lor the ransomed, 
where there is no danger of erring, — no, not so much as 
to the wayfaring ones, though fx)ls, Isai. xxxv. 8. 

Oh ! is it not precious, experimentally to read that 
Scripture, and to be able in true understanding to say. 
The way of life is easy, the yoke easy, the burden easy, 
the commandment not grievous ; that being brought down, 
and suMued in me, yea, removed and cast out, to which 
it was hard. Alas ! men building in the flesh, and after 
their carnal apprehensions of things, — how loathsome is 
it ! but, &:h1's building, raised in the light and life of his 
pure Spirit, how glorious, how beautiful, how lovely is it, 
even in the eye of God himself! '" Thou art all fair, my 
love, there is no spot in thee." Sol. Song, iv. 7. — Lito thy 
holy building, O God ! into thy heavenly building, into 
the spiritual Jerusalem, which thou rearest and buildest 
op in the Spirit, no unclean or defiled thing can enter ; nor 
is there any room there, for that which loves and makes a 
lie ! — Without, indeed, are swine and dogs, vulturous eyes 
and crooke*! serpents, who make a show of what they are 
not, and lay claim to that which belongs not to them ; bot, 
within, are the children, within is the heavenly birth, even 
the new creation of God in Clirist Jesus. For, Grod doth 
not strip his people naked, and gather them out of the 
spirit of this world, that they should be empty and deso- 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PEXINGTON. 91 

late forever ; but, he gathers them into, and fills them with 
his own Spirit, fills them with light, fills them with life, 
fills them w^ith holiness, fills them with righteousness, fills 
them with peace and joy, in believing and obeying the 
gospel ! And, in this Spirit, is the kingdom known, which 
is not of this worid, — the inward kingdom, the spiritual 
kingdom, the everlasting kingdom ! — where the everlast- 
ing throne is near, and the everlasting power revealed ! 
and the Lord God Omnipotent reigns in the hearts of his ! 
and other lords do not reign, but their horns are broken 
— and the horn of God's Anointed exalted, who sits ruling 
as King on his holy hill of Zion ! — and they that have 
suffered with him, and gone through great tribulation, do 
reign with him ; blessed be his name forever ! I. P. 

10th of Fourth Month. 



LETTER XXX. 

Of Truth in the Inward Parts. 
To Widow Hemmings. 



Dear Friend, — I think it long since I. heard from 
thee. I ^'emember the sweet and precious savour that 
was upon thy spirit, the last time I was with thee, with 
my dear Friend, J. C. It hath been my hope and desire, 
that the Lord might preserve thee therein. 

The Truth in the inward parts, is of God ; that is the 
thing which all are to mind ; and in which, acceptance 
with God is witnessed. Out of the Truth in the inward 
parts, there is no acceptance with God, let men profess 
what, they will or can. In the Truth, there is always ac- 
ceptance ; for God never disowned it, nor any that are in 
it. Here, the flesh and blood, which give life, are fed on ; 



92 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINNi;TOX. 

here, the bread which comes down from heaveu, and the 
water of life, are known; 'but, out of this, they are not, 
nor can they be known. 

my Friend ! that thou mightest feel more and more 
the Truth in the inward parts, and be more and more 
established therein. What is the feeding outward, or 
supper outward ? It is but a shadow. The feeding in- 
ward, or the supper inward, is the substance. And, as 
the day dawns, and the day-star arises in thy heart, the 
shadows will flee away, and the substance be discovered, 
owned, and delighted in by thee. The shadows reach but 
to the outward part, but the ministration of life, the minis- 
tration of the substance, reaches to the seed : and, thou 
must be more and more transplanted into the seed, that 
Christ may be formed in thee, and thou formed in him ; 
and so grow up into his heavenly nature and image, — out 
of the earthly, out of the natural. Oh I the Lord God 
prosper his own seed and holy plantation in thy heart ; 
and keep thee in the meek, lowly, humble, poor, and tender 
spirit, unto which is his mercy and blessing. 

1 expected to tiave heard from thee, or at least from thy 
daughter S., before this time, supposing I had a promise 
thereof from her. The Lord uphold, preserve, and bless 
her. Lee her not look out, but only look within, what the 
will of the Lord is ; and mind nothing else ; and it will 
be well with her. 

My dear love is both to thee and her, who am thy sin- 
cere Friend, I. P. 
4th of Ninth Month, 1673. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 93 



LETTER XXXL 

Deliverance from Spiritual Enemies by Christ, &c. ; also of 
Offences. 

Dear Friend, — For, in those true desires, which I 
observe in thy heart towards the Lord, thou art, and canst 
not but be dear unto me — I had a desire to have stayed 
a little while with thee, the last time I passed through 
Uxbridge, but was prevented. 

The occasion of my writing to thee, was, somewhat 
which was on my heart towards thee. 

Wouldst thou know the Lord in the gospel covenant, 
and wouldst thou walk with him therein? I know thou 
w^ouldst. Wouldst thou have sin destroyed in thee, and 
Christ reign in thy heart ? Wouldst thou so fight against 
thy enemies, as to overcome, and so run the race, as 
certainly to obtain the everlasting prize, and eternal 
w^eight of glory ? O ! then, mind Truth in the inw^ard 
parts, even the grace and truth, which are by Jesus 
Christ ; to whom God hath given power, and who gives 
power to his, by the grace of his Holy Spirit, over sin and 
corruption in the inward parts. Did not God conquer the 
enemies of the outward Jews in Egypt, in the wilderness, 
and in the good land also ? And shall he not do so in- 
wardly, for the inward Jews? There are enemies in 
Egypt ; in the land that is, as I may say, wholly dark, 
and under the oppression of spiritual Pharaoh. There 
are enemies in that heart, which is as a wilderness and 
solitary place ; and there are enemies in that heart, which 
is in some measure renewed, and made good and honest. 
Now, all the spiritual enemies, all the enemies of a man's 
own house, are to be destroyed by the power of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, working by his grace in the heart ; which, 



94 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

being received, subjected to, dwelt in, and obeyed, brings 
deliverance and salvation from them all. And, when sal- 
vation is brought home to the heart, and wrought out 
there by the Lord^ it is to be enjoyed and abode in, and 
the soul is not to return back again into captivity ; but, 
being delivered out of the hands of its inward and spirit- 
ual enemies, by the holy, inw^ard, and spiritual covenant, 
is to serve God in the dominion of his Son's life, in holi- 
ness and righteousness all its days here upon the earth. 

O my Friend ! mind this precious Truth inwardly, this 
precious grace inwardly, the precious life inwardly, the 
precious light inwardly, the precious power inwardly, the 
inward word of life, the inward voice of the Shepherd in 
the heart, the inward seed, the inward salt, the inward 
leaven, the inward pearl, &c. whereby Christ effects this. 
Distinguish between words ivithout concerning the thing, 
and the thing itself ivithin ; and wait and labour, then, to 
know, understand, and be guided by, the motives, lead- 
ings, drawings, teachings, quickenings, &c. of the thing it- 
self within. And, take heed of being offended, because of 
any thing, either within or without ; for, offences will 
come, but blessed was he, that was not offended at Christ 
outwardly in the days of his flesh ; and blessed is he, that 
is not offended at his inward Truth, and inward way of 
appearance in the day of his Spirit. Moses, that precious 
servant of the Lord, spake unadvisedly with his lips ; how 
easy is it, then, for those, who come not near Moses' state, 
so to do ; but, wait on God, that thou mayest distinguish 
between what Truth speaks in any. of us, and what any 
of us may unadvisedly speak, out of the Truth, — if we 
stand not upon the watch, and our words be not seasoned 
with God's light and his grace. For, praying to God, as 
God's Spirit leads and gives ability, and watching unto 
prayer, and seeking opportunities both alone and in our 
families, that God may open our hearts, and breathe upon 



LETTEFvS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 95 

ns, and for frequent and diligent reading of the Holy 
Scriptures, — none can testify from the Truth against these 
things ; though, against men's dead and formal perform- 
ing of these things, there is a lining testimony. Now, take 
heed of mistaking the testimony in any ; or of being 
stumbled, if any go beyond their due bounds in their tes- 
timony. 

O my Friend ! how precious is the thing, beyond all 
words or testimonies ! O that thou mayest come to know 
that in thyself, and to be sensible of God's ministering by 
it to thee, and increasing it in thee ! that thou mayest ex- 
perimentally feel the seed in thee, and iind it grow more 
and more, till it come to be a tree; and then, sit under its 
shadow, and be delighted wdth its defence, and partake of 
its sap and fruit. O that, ever}^ day, thou mightest have a 
sense of the life itself, the Truth itself, the power itself, 
the wisdom itself, the righteousness itself! and, that thou 
niightest find the Lord Jesus Christ both unclothing and 
clothing thee, inwardly, sensibly, and experimentally ; — 
that thou mightest find him taking away thy sin, thy 
iniquities, thy unrighteousness, both within and without 
also, and filling thee, and clothing thee with his righteous- 
ness ; — that so in God's sight, and by his putting on thee, 
and forming in thee, thou mightest find thy heart filled and 
covered with the nature, image and Spirit of his dear Son ; 
— that thou mightest, indeed, put off the old man with 
his nature and deeds, and put on the new man, and know 
the renewing and new creating in Christ Jesus, in the 
spirit of thy mind; — ^nd so, have a certain understanding 
of the Truth, as it is in Jesus, and as he manifests it, gives 
power to it, and causes it to work in thy heart. This is 
the desire of my soul for thee : the Lord guide thee to it, 
and remove all lets and hindrances out of thy w^ay. 

My dear and true love is to thy husband. The Lord 
manifest his pure, and living Truth in both your hearts, 



96 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

and gather both your minds thereunto, and make you one 
therein. 

Thy Friend in Truth, who heartily wisheth well to thy 
soul, I. P. 

Grove Place, 
17th of Ninth Month, 1673. 



LETTEK XXXII. 

Encouragement to Faithfulness under Apprehension of Sufferings. 
To Widow Hemmings. 

My DEAR Friend, — I have not forgotten thee: but 
have often inquired after thee, and many times breathed 
for thee. 

O my Friend look not out at what stands in the way ; 
what if it look dreadfully as a lion, is not the Lord 
stronger than the mountains of prey ? but look m, where 
the law of life is written, and the will of the Lord revealed, 
that thou mayest know what is the Lord's will concerning 
thee ; and then show thyself a faithful daughter of 
Abraham, and be like Sarah, not terrified with any 
amazement. So soon as I had read thy letter, this arose 
in my heart to thee, as God's counsel, proper to thy state. 
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark- 
ness, but rather reprove them. Be not straitened in thy 
spirit, as fearing what thou shalt suffer for Christ's sake ; 
or, as if God would not stand by thee, or carry thee 
through. Be thy sufferings as great as possible, yet he is 
faithful, who hath promised thee an hundred-fold in this 
life. 

O ! what can hurt thee, if thy God stand by thee ? Be 
faithful to his testimony in thy j)lace, and he will stand by 



il ill 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 97 

tliee. Take heed of joining with dead worships, which the 
seed of God in thee disowns, and cannot relish ; but meek- 
ly and in fear, testify against, and abstain from, what thou 
feelest not to be of the Lord. 

This was what was in my heart to thee at present in 
true and tender love, and in melting desires for thee, that 
the Lord may guide and preserve thee, and give thee of 
the Lamb's courage and strength, who by meekness and 
sufferings is now to conquer. What if the wicked nature, 
which is as a sea casting out mire and dirt, rage against 
thee ? There is a river, a sweet, still, flowing river, the 
streams whereof will make glad thy heart. And^ learn 
but in quietness and stillness to retire to the Lord, and 
wait upon him ; in whom thou shalt feel peace and joy, in 
the midst of thy trouble from the cruel and vexatious 
spirit of this world. So, wait to know thy work and 
service to the Lord every day, in thy place and station ; 
and the Lord make thee faithful therein, and thou wilt 
want neither help, support, nor comfort. 

Thy Friend, in the truest, sincerest, and most constant 
love, I. P. 

London, 
1st of Ninth Month, 1675. 



LETTEE XXXIIL 

Exhortation Eelative to the Christian Life and Travel. 
To DULCIBELLA LAITON. 

Dear Friend, — Concerning whom I feel a travail, — 
this is the sense of my heart in relation to thee. 

There is a pure seed of life, which God hath sown in 
thee ; O that it might come through, and come over all 
9 G 



98 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

tliat is above it, and contrary to it ! And for that end wait 
daily to feel it, and to feel thy mind subdued by it, and 
joined to it. Take heed of looking out, in the reasonings 
of thy mind, but dwell in the feeling sense of life ; and 
then, that will arise in thee more and more, v*'hich maketli 
truly wise, and gives power, and brings into the holy 
authority and dominion of life. Many that have been 
long travelling, are now entering into their possessions and 
inheritance, which the Lord is daily enlarging in them, 
and to them. O that thy lot may be among them, inwardly 
witnessed and possessed by thee ! Prize inward exercises, 
griefs, ^nd troubles ; and let faith and patience have their 
perfect v>ork in them. O desire to be good, upright, and 
perfect in God's sight ! and wait to feel the life, the Spirit, 
and power, which makes so. Come out of the knowledge 
and comprehension about things, into the feeling life ; and 
let that be thy knowledge and wisdom, which thou receiv- 
est and retainest in the feeling life ; and that will lead 
thee into the footsteps of the flock, without reasoning, 
consulting, or disputing. 

O ! v>'ait to be taught and enabled by God to fetch right 
steps in thy travels ; and to take up the cross and despise 
the shame in everything, wherein that wisdom, will, and 
mind, which is to be crucified, would be judge ; for, it will 
judge amiss, and lead aside, if it be hearkened to by thee. 
The Lord show thee the snares and dangers to which thou 
art liable, and lead thee out of them ; that whatever hin- 
dereth may be discovered to thee, and thy mind singly 
joined to that which disco vereth, that so it may be re- 
moved out of the way ; and all crooked things be made 
straight in thee, and the rough plain, and the high low, 
and the low high, and the weak and foolish strong and 
wise, and the vv'ise and strong weak and foolish. O ! wait 
to feel and understand my words, that thy conversation 
may be ordered aright by the power and wisdom of God ; 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 99 

and that thou may est inwardly come to witness the glorious 
coming of Him, who is the salvation of God, and in whom 
thou shalt not fail to see the salvation of God. 

Thou must be- very low, weak, and foolish, that the seed 
may arise in thee to exalt thee, and become thy strength 
and wisdom ; and thou must die exceedingly, again and 
again, more and more, inwardly and deeply ! that thy life 
may spring up from the holy root and stock ; and thou 
mayest be more and more gathered into it, spring up into 
it, and live alone in the life, virtue, and power thereof. 
The travel is long, the exercises many, the snares, tempta- 
tions, and dangers many ; and yet the mercy, relief, and 
help, is great also. 

O ! that thou mayest feel thy calling and election, thy 
sinking down, springing up, and establishment, in the pure 
seed, in the light and righteousness thereof over all; that 
thou mayest sing songs of degrees to the Redeemer of Israel, 
and mayest daily more and more partake of and rejoice in 
him, who is our joy, and the crown thereof. 

Thy Friend, in the most sincere, tender love, I. P. 

11th of Fifth Month, 1677. 



LETTER XXXIV. 

On Decay of "First Love," and a Hardened State through the 
Deceitfulness of Sin. 

To George Winkfield. 

Dear Friend, — Two things stick upon ray heart, since 
our last short discourse at the window at Kino-'s, throuo;h 
my desire that it may go well with thee, and that thou 
mayest be right in God's sight. 

One is, that saying of thine about thy love to Truth 



100 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

and Friends, as if it were as great as ever it was. Now, I 
entreat thee to weigh this thing, and to wait on God to 
know, whether it be really so or no ; which thou mayest 
understand by this : if thou be as really desirous, and wait- 
est, as singly, to know and obey the commands of truth as 
ever, then, thy love to it is as great as formerly in its first 
heat and zeal ; otherwise, not. " He that hath my com- 
mandments and keej^eth them," saith Christ, "he it is that 
loveth me." John, xiv. 21. And hereby, we know that 
our knowledge of him is true and living ; because it leads, 
quickens, and enables us to the keej)ing of his command- 
ments. 1 John, ii. 3. 

The other is, that thou saidst, thy heart is not hardened. 
O ! consider this seriously ; for, if thy heart be hardened, 
and thou not sensible of it, thy estate is exceeding dan- 
gerous. Kow, if the Lord by his power h^th preserved 
thee out of that which hardens the heart ; then, without 
doubt, thy heart is not hardened : but, if the enemy hath 
tempted thee to let in reasonings into thy mind, against 
anything that is indeed of God ; and thou hast run into 
any practices contrary to Truth, and justifiest them in thy 
heart, from any reasonings and thoughts the enemy hath 
suggested to and strengthened thy mind in ; then, without 
doubt, thy heart is so far hardened. It is impossible for 
thee, or any one else, to let in that which hardens, and not 
be hardened. 

O ! mind that precious advice of the Apostle, Heb. iii. 
13. Mark, sin deceives, lust deceives, desire after any- 
thing that pleaseth the flesh, and is desirable to the worldly 
nature, deceives. And, whoever is deceived by it, and lets 
it in, (mind, he doth not let it in as an evil thing, but is 
deceived by it,) his heart is hardened against that, which 
would show him the evil of it, and draw his mind from 
it, if he did in truth hearken to it, and were not lulled 
asleep in the deceit. And, there must be a daily watching 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 101 

against that which deceives and hardens, as the apostle 
there adviseth them to exhort one another unto, lest the 
enemy at any time catch any of them in the snare of sin, 
and so harden them. 

Now, he that would not provoke the Lord to give him 
up to full hardness, must take heed of the degrees thereof; 
and happy is he who so doth. O, G. W. ! consider, as be- 
fore the Lord, whether thy walking be answerable to truth, 
go far as thou knowest trutb ; and whether thou art will- 
ingly ignorant of anything, which the good God is willing 
and ready to give thee the knowledge of, that thou mayest 
take more liberty, to the flesh in that, which the life of 
Truth, if felt, would soon condemn and draw from. 

This is in most sincere love to thee, from him who hath 
always been thy Friend. I. P. 

11th of TweMi Month, 1677. 



LETTER XXXV. 

Propositions Eelating to the Truth and Substance of Eeligion. 
To Sir William Drake (so styled). 

First. There is a God, a holy, righteous, living, power- 
ful God, who made heaven and earth, and all things therein ; 
and, at last, made man in his own image, and set him over 
the works of his hands, to have dominion, and to rule in 
his wisdom and power over them ; and to guide, order, and 
make use of them, to the glory of Him that made them. 
Now, in this state, God was pleased and took delight in 
the works of his hands, and in man above all. 

Secondly. Man, sinning against his Maker, lost this im- 
age, which was his glory, and became brutish in under- 
9^ 



102 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

standing, and an enemy to God in his mind, and liable to 
the wrath of God's holy and righteous nature. 

Thirdly. There is no reconciliation to be had bet\Yeen 
God and man any more, but by the change of this nature 
in man : for, God is unchangeable, he is light, he is life, 
he is holiness unchangeable ; and will never be recon- 
ciled to, or have fellowship with darkness, with that 
which is dead and unholy, — which man in his fallen estate 
is, until he be begotten again to God, changed and renewed 
from his evil and sinful nature, into a good and holy 
nature, and till he be turned from evil works, and know 
what it is to be the workmanship of God, created anew unto 
good works. 

Fourthly. Xothing can produce this change in man, but 
the spirit and power of Christ, but the grace and truth 
which is by Jesus Christ. Therefore, a man had need be 
sure that he receive this Spirit and power, and that he feel 
the operative, changing virtue of it, and be really changed 
thereby, being created anew, begotten anew to God, in the 
holiness and righteousness of Truth, a son and servant to 
the living God ; — or he can never know^ what belongs to 
true reconciliation with God, and to fellowship with Him 
in the light and life of his Son. 

Fifthly. All the religions and professions upon the face 
of the earth, which fall short of this Spirit, life, and power, 
and wherein this new creation in Christ Jesus is not wit- 
nessed, nor power received to abstain from what is evil, 
and become sons to God, — are not the pure, powerful, 
gospel religion, wherein the divine virtue and power of life 
operates ; but, that which men in the earthly wisdom have 
formed without life. And, all religions that have but a 
form of godliness, and not the power, are to be turned 
away from, and witnessed against, by such as are called 
forth to be witnesses to the true, gospel religion and way 
of worship, which stands in Spirit, life, and power. 



i 



I.ETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 103 

Sixthly, This religion and worship, which stands in 
Spirit, life, and power, is the religion and worship, which 
Christ set up about sixteen hundred years ago, John iv. 
23, 24 1 Cor. iv. 20, Eom. vi, 4, And, this is the religion 
which God hath revived and set up again, as they that 
receive the gospel now preach it; and, believing in the 
power^ which is both outwardly testified of, and also in- 
wardly revealed, they have the witness of it in their own 
hearts. Rev. xiv. 6, 7. 1 John, v, 10, 11, 12, Isai, liii. 1. 
O how sweet are these Scriptures, when they are rightly 
read and rightly understood, the Lord giving the right un- 
derstanding, and leading into the tree experience of them ! 

Friend, — Thou expressed to one of my youngest sons, 
as he related to me, that thou hadst a desire I should 
visit thee, that thou mightst have some discourse with me 
about religion. That is the most profitable kind of dis- 
course that can be, if it be ordered in the fear of the Lord, 
and in a weighty sense and dread of him, I am very 
serious in reference to religion, and would not therein mis- 
take or miscarry, by any means ; and, if I might be help- 
ful to thee, or to any man, as to the truth and power of 
religion, it would be matter of gladness to my heart, and 
of praising and blessing the Lord, in the sense of his 
stretching forth his hand towards the saving of any. Now, 
that our meeting and discourse may be the more solemn 
and advantageous, I have sent thee a few plain proposi- 
tions to consider of; which I do not only find signified of 
in the Scriptures, but the Lord hath also written them on 
my heart; and, if they be plain to thee, and thou be also 
in the serious sense of them, it may tend towards the 
making of our discourse the more easy and profitable. 

These are the main things ; and he that is rightly 
grounded, I mean, in the true and sensible experience of 
them in his heart, cannot miss of God's guidance to make 



104 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

a safe and happy progress therein ; he daily waiting upon 
the Lord, to be taught and led by Him, further and further, 
into the life, Spirit, and power of Truth ; so that, he shall 
be taught of God to know his Son Jesus, and the freedom 
which is by the Truth as it is in Jesus, daily more and 
more ; which it is my soul's sincere and single desire, that 
thou, thy wife, and family, may be experiencers and happy 
partakers of. 

what a glorious state was man once in, before his 
transgressing the holy law of God ! but, when he sinned, 
how did he fall short of the glory of God ! Yet, as he 
hears His voice and follows Him, that leads out of sin into 
the image of God, into the holiness and righteousness of 
Truth; how is he brought back by the Lord, and how 
doth he return, in the blessed leadings of God's blessed 
Spirit, into the glory of God again! Eead 2 Cor. iii. 18 ; 
and, O that thou mayest livingly and sensibly know what 
it means ! 

1 remain an acknowledger of thy kindness, and a de- 
sirer for thee, that thou mayest obtain from God the 
knowledge of himself and his Son, which is experienced, 
by them that receive it, to be, indeed, life eternal. 

LP. 

This was written in true love and good-will, and in the 
fear of the Lord, and in the springings and openings of 
his life in my heart. 

IQth of Fifth Month, 1678. 



il i. 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINaTON. 105 
LETTER XXXVI. 

Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom. 
To S. W. 

Dear Friend, — I ever had a love to thee, and a deep 
sense of the serious work of God upon 'thy heart, and the 
upright desires of thy soul after Him. And, that the 
Lord should yet preserve thee alive, in the midst of so 
great and languishing weakness, is wonderful in my eye, 
and, I hope, hath a tendency of some honour to his name, 
and good to thee. I have often inquired of late concern- 
ing thee, and was glad to understand what I inquired 
after, by a letter from thy own hand ; upon reading 
whereof, in the retired sense of my heart, I felt love arise 
to thee, and breathings to the Lord for thee ; and, O ! 
that thou mayest fully feel, and be joined to the seed of 
life, the seed of the kingdom, which our Lord Jesus 
Christ, in the days of his flesh, did not disdain to be a 
preacher of. 

O my dear Friend ! let not any part of thy life lie in 
notions above the seed, but let it all lie in the seed itself, 
in thy waiting upon the Lord for its arisings in thee, and 
in thy feeling its arisings. O what becomes of flesh, and 
self, and self-righteousness, when this lives in the heart ! 
My religion, which I now daily bless my God for, began 
in this seed ; which, when I first felt, and discerningly 
knew from the Lord, my cry to him was, O this is it I 
have longed after and waited for ! O unite my soul to 
thee in this forever ! this is thy Son's gift from thee, thy 
Son's grace, thy Son's Truth, thy Son's life, thy Son's 
Spirit ! I desire no more, than to be made nothing in 
myself, that this may be all in me : and, what I meet with 



106 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

aud witness here, what I feel the Lord Jesus Christ to be 
made to me here, none knows, or possibly can know, but 
they that have felt the pure power of the Spirit of life, and 
have been led by it into the same holy and blessed ex- 
perience. 

Ah I sin hath no share here, in this blessed seed ; but is 
excluded, by the life and power which is stronger than it. 
Here, Christ is formed in the soul, of a truth ; here, the 
black garments of unrighteousness, yea, of man's right- 
eousness too, are put off, and the white raiment put on ; 
here, the holy image is brought forth in the heart, even 
the image of the dear Son, which partakes of the divine 
nature of the Father; here, the soul is new created in 
Christ Jesus ; here, is no deceit in any kind met with, but 
only truth from God, even the true life, light, virtue, 
power, of the Lord Jesus Christ, as livingly felt in the 
heart, and as effectually operating there, as ever the power 
of sin did. O ! that thou mighrst daily discern this, 
and feel this to grow up in thee more and more, and die 
to all notions, even of the heavenly things themselves, out 
of this ; that thy soul may fully live in the life. Spirit, 
and power of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and nothing but his 
life. Spirit, and power, may live in thee ; to the glory of 
God the Father, and to the great joy and gladdening of 
thy heart in his presence ! Amen. 

Thy Friend, in the true, sincere love of the heavenly, 
everlasting seed. I. P. 

13th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PESIXGTON. 107 

LETTER XXXVII. 

Comfort and Counsel under Affliction, 
To THE Lady Conway. 

Dear Friend, — In tender love, and in a sense of thy 
sore afflictions and exercises, I do most dearly salute thee; 
desiring for thee, that the work of the Lord in thy heart 
may not he interrupted by any devices of the enemy ; 
but, that it may go on and prosper in thee, in the spring- 
iDg up of the pure seed of life in thy heart, and in the 
powerful overturning, by the mighty arm of the Lord, of 
all that is contrary thereto in thee. O that thou mayest 
daily feel that holy birth of life, which is begotten by the 
Father, and lives by faith in him ! — I say, O that thou 
mayest daily feel it living in thee, when temptations and 
trials on every hand increase — feel the birth of life, 
which will cry to the Father, " Lord, increase my faith ! " 

Though sorrows, heaviness, and faintings of heart ever 
so much increase ; yet, if thy faith increase also, it will 
bear thee up in the midst of them.. I would fain have it 
go well with thee, and that thou miglitst not want the 
Reprover, in any thing that is to be reproved in thee ; nor 
the Comforter, in any respect wherein thy soul wants 
comfort; nor the holy Counsellor and Adviser, in any 
strait or difficulty which the wise and tender God orders 
to befall thee. 

Ah ! that tliou mightst come to feel the daily wasting 
of sin and death, and the daily springing of life and holi- 
ness in thy hearc. The pearl is worth thousands of 
worlds, with the greatest earthly glory and pleasure 
imaginable. O that thou mayest be taught of God to dis- 
cern it more and more, and to buy it, and to come into 



108 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

the enjoyment and possession of it! The Lord manifest 
Zion more and more to thee, and show thee the glory of 
it, and set thy feet towards it ; and put into thy heart to 
seek of him the way to it, renewing thee more and more 
in the spirit of thy mind, whereby the way comes clearly 
to be discerned, and faithfully walked in ; that thou may- 
est witness, daily, the everlasting covenant of life and 
peace, even the sure mercies of David. 

The desire of my soul is, that thy afBictions, which how 
grievous soever, yet are but momentary, may fit thee for, 
and work out an eternal weight of glory, for thy soul to 
inherit in another world, forever. 

I remain a sympathizer with thee in thy sufferings ; 
who desires all the advantage and blessings from the God 
of my life, may come to thee, which hardships, temptations, 
and trials, prepare the heart and make way for. I. P. 

14th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

My dear Friend, — Some time after writing the fore- 
going, this arose in me to thee. If the Lord, in thy wait- 
ing upon him, to search and try thy heart and ways, shall 
please to show^ thee any thing amiss therein ; mind this 
counsel on my heart to thee. Be not looking at it too 
much, on the one hand, or excusing it, on the other hand ; 
but sink down beneath thyself, retiring thither, where thou 
may est receive from the Lord true judgment concerning 
it, and also strength against it. And know this, in the 
holy experience; that thou must be weakened by the 
Lord, and be contented in or with thy weak and distressed 
estate, if thou wouldst receive mercy and strength from 
him. And the more thou art weakened and distressed, 
the more thou art fitted for, and the more abundantly 
shalt thou partake of, his mercy and strength ; waiting 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENi:t;raTON. 109 

upon him in the meek, quiet, patient, and resigned spirit, 
which he will not fail to work thy mind into ; that, in the 
issue of all, thou mayest reap the quiet fruits of righteous- 
ness and heavenly peace from his hand. Amen, so be it 
from the Lord to thy soul ! 



LETTEE XXXVIIL 

On the Benefit of Chastening by Afflictions. 
To THE Lady Conway. 

Dear Friend, — As I was lately retired in spirit and 
waiting upon the Lord, having a sense on me of thy long, 
sore, and deep affliction and distress ;. there arose a Scrip- 
ture in my heart to lay before thee, namely, Heb. xii. 5, 
6, 7, which, I entreat thee, to call for a Bible, and hear 
read, before thou proceedest to what follows. 

O my Friend ! after it hath pleased the Lord in tender 
mercy to visit us, and turn our minds from the world and 
ourselves towards him, and to beget and nourish that 
which is pure and living, of himself, in us ; yet, notwith- 
standing this, there remains somewhat at first, yea, and 
perhaps for a long time, which is to be searched out by 
the light of the Lord, and brought down and subdued by 
his afflicting hand. When there is, indeed, somewhat of 
an holy will formed in the day of God's power ; and the 
soul, in some measure, begotten and brought forth to live 
to God, in the heavenly wisdom ; yet, all the earthly will 
and wisdom is not thereby presently removed : but, there 
are hidden things, of the old nature and spirit, still 
remaining ; which, perhaps, appear not, but sink inward 
into their root, that they may save their life ; which, man 
cannot possibly find out in his own heart, but as the Lord 
10 



110 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

reveals them to him. But, how doth the Lord find them 
out? O consider ! his " fire is in Zion, and his furnace in 
Jerusalem." By his casting into the furnace of affliction, 
the fire searcheth. The deep, sore, distressing affliction, 
which rends and tears the very inwards, finds out both 
the seed and the chafi*, purifying the pure gold and con- 
suming the dross; and then, at length, the quiet state is 
witnessed, and the quiet fruit of righteousness brought 
forth, by the searching and consuming nature and opera- 
tion of the fire. O that thy soul may be tried unto victory 
over all that is not of the pure life in thee ! and, that thou 
ma vest wait to feel the pure seed, or measure of life in 
thee and die into the seed, feeling death unto all that is not 
of the seed in thee ! and, that thou mayest feel life, heal- 
ing, refreshment, support, and comfort from the God of 
thy life, in the seed ; — and nowhere else, nor at any time, 
but as the Lord pleaseth to administer it to thee there. 
Oh ! the Lord guide thee daily, and keep thy mind to 
him ; at least, looking towards the holy place of the 
springing of his life and power in thy heart. Look unto 
him. Help, pity, salvation, will arise in his due time; 
but, it will not arise from any thing thou canst do or 
think ; and faith will spring and patience be given, and 
hope in the tender Father of mercy, and a meek and quiet 
spirit will be witnessed ; and the Lamb's nature springing 
up and opening in thee, from his precious seed, which will 
excel in nature, kind, degree, and virtue, all the faith, 
patience, hope, meekness, &c., which thou, or any else, 
otherwise can attain unto. O ! look not at thy pain or 
sorrow, how great soever ; but look from them, look off 
them, look beyond them, to the Deliverer ! whose power 
is over them, and whose loving, wise, and tender Spirit is 
able to do thee good by them. And, if the outward afflic- 
tions work out an exceeding weight of glory, O what shall 
the inward do for those, who are humbly, brokenly, and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PE In^IIS^GTON. Ill 

faithfully exercised before the Lord by them ! O ! wait 
to feel the seed, and the cry of thy soul in the breathing 
life of the seed, to its Father, v/ith its sweet, kindly, and 
natural subjection to him. And wait for the risings of 
the power in thy heart, in the Father's seasons, and for 
faith in the power ; that thou mayest feel inward healing, 
of all the inward wounds which the Lord makes in thy 
soul, through his love to thee for thy good. 

If thou wilt receive the kingdom that cannot be 
shaken, thou must wait to have that discovered in thee, 
which may be shaken ; and the Lord arising terribly to 
shake the earth, and it removed out of its place as a 
cottage, and the heavens also rolled up like a scroll. 
And, while the Lord is doing this, he will be hiding thee 
in the hollow of his hand, (thy mind still retiring to the 
seed,) and will, in these troublesome and dismal times, in- 
wardh^ be forming the new heavens and the new earth, 
wherein, when they are brought forth and established, 
dwells righteousness. The Lord lead thee, day by day, 
in the right way, and keep thy mind stayed upon him, in 
whatever befalls thee ; that the belief of his love and hope 
in his mercy, when thou art at the lowest ebb, may keep 
up thy head above the billows ; and that thou mayest go 
on in the disciple's state, learning righteousness and holi- 
ness of Him, who teacheth to deny and put off unholiness 
and unrighteousness, and to know% embrace, and put on 
newness of life, and the holiness and righteousness there- 
of. 

The Lord God of my life be with thee, preserving and 
ordering thy heart for the great day of his love and 
mercy; which will come in the appointed season, when 
the heart is fully exercised and fitted by the Lord lor it, 
and will not tarry. I. P. 



112 LETTERS OF ISAAC PE>'iyGTOX 



LETTER XXXIX. 

On being Ingrafted into Christ, being Preserved Alive in Him, and 
Growing up in Him in all Things. 

To S. W. 

Dear S. W., — I have ever had a love to thee, and 
have many times been filled with earnest desires for thee ; 
that thou mayest know the L#ord in his own pure teach- 
ings, and travel into, and dwell in, the fulness of the 
kingdom of his dear Son ; and that thou mayest be 
blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in 
Christ. 

In order to arrive here, thou must wait to know God 
and Christ, in the mystery of their Spirit, life, and ppwer ; 
and, by that Spirit, life, and power, find the secrets of the 
mystery of darkness searched and purged out, and the 
mystery of godliness opened and established in thy heart, 
in the room thereof; — Christ formed inwardly; the soul 
formed, yea, and created inwardly anew in him ; a real 
transplanting into his death, and a real feeling of his 
springing and rising life ; and an experience of the sweet- 
ness, safety, and virtue of his rising life ; — and daily to 
be sensible, what it is to lie down in the holy, quickening 
power, and to rise again in the risings of the life and 
power ; and so, be only what thou art made and preserved 
to be, in the light, grace, life, virtue, and power of the 
Lord Jesus Christ ; and to feel him remove any thing that 
is unrighteous, and clothing thee with his pure life, Spirit, 
and righteousness. 

Oh ! tbis is indeed the pure, precious, living knowledge 
of the Lord Jesus Christ ; which all the outward knowl- 
edge tends to lead to, and is comprehended and ended in. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 113 

This is the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ 
our Lord, which Paul was so ravished with, and counted 
all things but dross and dung for. Now, that thou mayest 
obtain this, mind the inward appearance, the root, the foun- 
tain, the rock within, the living stone within, — its open- 
ings, its springings, its administering life to thee ; and take 
heed of running into the outwardness of openings^ con- 
cerning the heavenly things ; but keep, O learn to keep^ 
O mind to keep in the inwardness of life within ! This is 
the everlasting habitation of the birth, which is begotten 
and brought forth, bred up and kept alive, alone by the 
presence, power, and operation of the living Spirit; — and 
the Lord Jesus is that Spirit, as really as he ^as man, 
even the holy, heavenly, immaculate, spotless Lamb of 
, God. And, in this state, life reigns in the heart, and the 
horn of the Holy One is exalted, the he^d of the serpent 
crushed, yea, Satan trod under foot, by the God of peace ; 
who would have his children dwell in the sweetness and 
"fulness of the gospel, — in the peace, life, righteousness, 
and joy of his blessed Spirit and power. 

Oh ! who would not desire after, and wait for, and walk 
with the Lord, towards the obtaining and possessing of 
these things? All the promises, in Christ, are yea and 
amen. Inward victory is promised ; the inward presence 
of God is promised ; God's dwelling and walking in the 
soul is promised ; Christ supping with the soul, and the 
soul with him, is promised ; putting the law in the heart, 
and writing it there ; putting the pure, living fear into it ; 
yea, also putting the holy, powerful Spirit into it, which 
can cause it to walk in God's ways, and to keep his right- 
eous judgments and do them : and He is able to do this 
work in the heart ; for, what cannot the spirit of judgment 
and burning consume and burn up within ? Yea, all these 
things are promised. He can cause the soul to rejoice in 
the Lord, and work righteousness, and to remember the 
10* H 



114 LETTEPvS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

Lord ill his ways, as some were taught and enabled to do 
in former times, Isai. Ixiv. 5 ; yea, he can bring into the 
way of holiness, the King of glory's highway, into which 
no unclean thing can enter, and [can] keep undefiled 
therein ; and, they that are kept undefiled therein, taste 
the sweetness, blessedness, purity, and holy pleasure 
thereof. 

I would fain have ray own soul and thine, and all the 
real, serious, faithful people of God experience, and be 
able to say with David, that which, after his many trials, 
afflictions, troubles, temptations, and grievous fall, he was 
able to say, in relation to his walking with the Lord, " For 
I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly 
departed from my God. For all his judgments were be- 
fore me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I 
was also upright before him, and I kept myself from 
iniquity.'' Psal. xviii. 21, 22, 23. Oh ! this is precious, 
wdien a man comes to know his iniquity, wherein the 
enemy's strength lies as to him, and whereby the enemy 
hath most advantage to tempt and gain ground on him, 
brought down and subdued. Certainly, when one gains 
strength from God, to overcome the enemy here, and to 
keep out of this, he comes very near to the keeping of him- 
self, in and by virtue of the Holy Spirit and power, so as 
the wicked one cannot touch him, nor draw him to touch 
any unclean thing. If that be indeed put off, wherein the 
enemy's power lies; and that indeed put on, wherein the 
strength of the Lord Jesus is revealed ; and the soul be 
really in the possession of, and abide in this state ; how 
can it but be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his 
might ; and witness the good pleasure of the goodness of 
the Lord fulfilling, and the work of faith going on with 
power, daily, more and more; a little measure whereof, 
kept to, removes the mountains inwardly, and gives 
strength over the enemy. How, then, doth it increase and 



II K 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 115 

grow up in life and virtue, and in a sensible understand- 
ing and experience of the name of the Lord Jesus ! Is 
there not, in this state, a feeling of remission of sins, a 
feeling of redemption, a feeling of reconciliation, a feeling 
of oneness with God in Christ, a feeling of God being the 
salvation, strength, and song, and a trusting in him, and 
not being afraid ? Isai. xii. 2. Is there not a being care- 
ful in nothing, but in every thing making the requests to 
God, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, in 
that Spirit and holy breath of life, which the Father can- 
not deny ; and so, the peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding, keeping the heart and mind through Christ 
Jesus ? 

O my Friend! there is an ingrafting into Christ, a 
being formed and new created in Christ, a living and 
abiding in him, and a growing and bringing forth fruit 
through him unto perfection. O mayest thou experience 
all these things ! and, that thou mayest so do, wait to know 
life, the springings of life, the separations of life inwardly, 
from all that evil which hangs about it, and would be 
springing up and mixing with it, under an appearance of 
good ; that life may come to live fully in thee, and noth- 
ing else. And so, sink very low, and become very little, 
and know little ; yea, know no power to believe, act, or 
suffer any thing for God, but as it is given thee, by the 
springing grace, virtue, and life of the Lord Jesus. For, 
grace is a spiritual, inward thing and holy seed, sown by 
God, springing up in the heart. People have got a notion 
of grace, but know not the thing. Do not thou matter 
the notion, but feel the thing ; and know thy heart more 
and more ploughed up by the Lord, that his seed's grace 
may grow up in tliee more and more, and thou mayest 
daily feel thy heart as a garden, more and more enclosed, 
watered, dressed, and delighted in by him. 



116 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

This is a salutation of love from thy Friend in the 
Truth,- which lives and changes not. I. P. 

27th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 



LETTER XL. 

Counsel to One Tossed as with Tempests. 

Dear Friend, — Thy condition cannot but be weak 
and dark, until the light of life arise in thee, and the 
power of the Lord overcome and subdue the power of 
darkness, which strives to keep the seed of life in the grave 
and bonds of death. 

It is the Lord's mercy, to give thee breathings after life, 
and cries unto him against that which oppresseth thee ; 
and happy wilt thou be, when he shall fill thy soul with 
that, which he hath given thee to breathe after. Only, let 
thy heart wait for strength to trust him with the season ; 
for, his long tarrying is thy salvation, and the destruction 
of those enemies, which, while any strength remains in 
them, will never suffer thee and thy God to dwell uninter- 
ruptedly together. Therefore, they must needs die, and 
He who hath the power to kill them, knows the way ; 
which, to the appearing of thy sense, will be as if he 
meant to kill the life of thy soul, and not of them. But, 
lie still under his hand, and be content to be unable to 
judge concerning his ways and workings in thy heart ; and 
thou shalt at times feel an inward leaven of life from his 
Holy Spirit, whereby he will change and transform thy 
spirit into his likeness, in some measure, for the present. 
And, though it be quickly gone again, and the Avhole land 
so overspread with enemies, that there is no sight of re- 
demption or the Redeemer left, but the soul in a worse 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 117 

condition than before ; yet, be not troubled : for, if troubles 
abound, and there be tossing, and storms, and tempests, 
and no peace, nor any thing visible left to support ; yet, 
lie still, and sink beneath, till a secret hope stir, which 
will stay the heart in the midst of all these : until the 
Lord administer comfort, who knows how and what relief 
to give to the weary traveller, that knows not where it is, 
nor which way to look, nor where to expect a path. 

How shall I speak to thee, how shall I mourn over thee ? 
O that thou mayest be upheld to the day of God's mercy 
to thy soul ! and be gathered, out of all such knowledge, 
as thou canst comprehend or contain in what is natural, 
into the feeling of life ; that thou mayest know the differ- 
ence, between living upon somewhat received from God, 
and, having God live with thee, and administer life to thee 
at his pleasure ; thou being kept in the nothingness, empti- 
ness, poverty, and perfect resignation of spirit. 

This counsel is to thee, through a poor, weak vessel, 

LP. 



LETTEK XLL 



Encouragement under Trials incident to bearing the Cross of 
Christ. 

Who is able to undergo the crosses and afflictions, either 
inward or outward, which befall those, whom God draws 
out of the spirit of this world and path of destruction, 
into the way of eternal rest and peace? Yet, the Lord is 
able to uphold that which feels its weakness, and daily 
waits on him for support, under the heaviness of the cross. 

I know, dear heart, thy outward trials cannot but be 
sharp and bitter ; and I know also, that the Lord is able 
to sustain thee under them, and cause thee to stand thy 
ground ; that thou give not advantage to that spirit, which 



118 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 



hereby would draw from the Lord, and from the way of 
life and happiness. O that thou couldst dwell in the knowl- 
edge and sense of this ! even, that the Lord beholds thy 
sufferings with an eye of pity ; and is able, not only to up- 
hold thee under them, but also to do thee good by them ; 
and to bring forth that life and wisdom in thee by means 
thereof, to which he will give dominion over that spirit 
which grieves and afflicts thee, in his due season. There- 
fore, grieve not at thy lot, be not discontented, look not 
out at the hardness of thy condition ; but, when the storm 
and matters of vexation are sharp, look up to Him who 
can give meekness and patience, can lift up thy head over 
all, and cause thy life to grow, and be a gainer by all. If 
the Lord God did not help us by his mighty arm, how 
often should we fall and perish ! and if the Lord God 
help thee proportion ably to thy condition of affliction and 
distress, thou wilt have no cause to complain, but to bless 
his name. He is exceedingly good, and gracious, and ten- 
der-hearted, and doth not despise the afflictions of the 
afflicted, for his name's sake, in any kind. 

This is in tender love towards thee, with breathings to 
my Father, that his pleasant plant may not be crushed in 
thee, by the foot of pride and violence ; but may overgrow 
it, and flourish the more because of it. 

From thy truly loving Friend in the Truth, and for the 
Truth's sake, L P. 



LETTER XLIL 

On being Offended with those who fall into Temptation. 

It is of the infinite mercy and compassion of the Lord, 
that his pure love visiteth any of us ; and, it is by the 
preservation thereof alone, that we stand. If He leave us 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 119 

at any time, but one momerit, what are we? and who is 
there that provoketh Him not to depart ? Let him throw 
the first stone at him that falls. 

In the Truth itself, in the livirjg power and virtue, there 
is no offence; but, that part which is not perfectly re- 
deemed, hath still matter for the temptation to work upon, 
and may be taken in the snare. Let him that stands, take 
heed lest he fall ; and, in the bowels of pity, mourn over 
and wait for the restoring of him that is fallen. That 
which is so apt to be offSlided, is the same with that which 
falls. O ! do not reason in the high-mindedness, ag^ainst 
any that turn aside from the pure Guide ; but fear, lest 
the unbelieving and fleshly wise part get up in thee also. 
O know the weakness of the creature in the withdrawings 
of the life ! and the strength of the enemy in that hour ! 
and the free grace and mercy which alone can preserve ! 
and thou wilt rather wonder that any stand, than that 
some fall. 

When the pure springs of life open in the heart, imme- 
diately the enemy watcheth his opportunity to get en- 
trance ; and many times finds entrance soon after — the 
soul little fearing or suspecting him, having lately felt 
such mighty, unconquerable strength ; and yet, how often 
then doth he get in, and smite the life down to the ground ! 
and, what may he not do with the creature, unless the Lord 
graciously help ! 

Oh ! great is the mystery of godliness, the way of life 
narrow, the travel to the land of rest long, hard, and 
sharp ; it is easy miscarrying, it is easy stepping aside, at 
any time ; it is easy losing the Lord's glorious presence ; 
unless the defence about it, by his Almighty arm, be kept 
up. There is a time for the Lord's taking down the fence 
from his own vineyard, because of transgression, and then, 
the wild boar may easily break in. Ah ! who tastes not 



120 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 

of this, in some measure? and what hinders, that he taste 
not of it in a greater measure ? 

Ah ! turn in from the fleshly wisdom and reasonings, 
unto the pure river of life itself; and wait there, to have 
that judged which hath taken offence; lest, if it grow 
stronger in thee, it draw thee from the life, which alone is 
able to preserve thee ; and so, thou also fall ! 

This is in dear love to thee : retire from that part which 
looketh out, and feel the inward virtue of that which can 
restore and preserve thee. ^ I. P. 



LETTEK XLIII. 



The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the Enemy's 
Accusations. 

To Widow Hemmixgs. 

My DEAR Friend, — Whom I have always truly and 
faithfully loved as in the sight of the Lord, and to whom 
my love in the Lord still continues. 

Since I heard of thy illness and weakness, by M. S., 
whom I desired to visit thee, I have had an earnest desire 
to see thee ; and have been considering how to effect it, 
but cannot with any convenience at present, as my Friend 
T. E., the bearer hereof, can further inform thee. But, 
the desires of my heart to the God of my life, are, that he 
would give thee a visit in his tender pity, and guide and 
help thee to stay thy mind upon himself, in his most pre- 
cious Truth ; of which he hath not only given thee a taste, 
but, many times, a full sense and experience. 

my dear Friend ! that nothing, might come between 
thy soul and God's Truth ; that thy comfort, peace, and 
joy, might be full, and that thou mightst lay down thy 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 121 

head quietly in the bosom of Him, who loves thee, and 
accepts the sincere desires of thy heart towards him ; as 
I have always told thee, and as is still true concerning 
thee. Mind not temptations nor accusations, nor the many 
noises the enemy will make in thee and against thee, to 
the Lord ; but, wait to feel Truth and life springing in 
thy heart from the holy well, and to hear the still voice 
of the Spirit of the Lord ; and he will testify his love to 
thee, and speak peace. 

Oh ! the tender bowels' of my heavenly Father relieve 
thee ; and gather thee inwardly in thither, and preserve 
thee there, where the enemy cannot break in upon thee. 
Look not upon thy sins, even since thou hast known the 
Truth, vv^herein thou mightst have met with strength 
against, and preservation from sin, and have been in some 
measure blessed by the Lord ; but, wait to feel somewhat 
inwardly, w^herein God appears and breathes, and gathers, 
and receives — ^and eases of the loads, fears, doubts, trou- 
bles, temptations, and accusations, &c. ; and the Lord 
God of my life and tender mercies, which he hath made 
sure to my soul in the everlasting covenant, give thee 
solid peace and consolation in the Son of his love, through 
the measure of his grace and Truth springing in thy 
heart, and staying thy mind upon him. 

O ! feel the seed, and the faith which springs from the 
seed, which gives victory over the enemy, and all his 
mysterious workings in the heart. 

Thy Friend, in the truest and most sincere love, I. P. 
11 



122 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 



LETTER XLIV. 

On Resisting; and on Receiving God^s Spirit ; also on Redemption 
by Christ Jesus. 

To Nathaxiel Stoxar. 

It is a dangerous thing to resist God's Spirit ; and yet 
very easy for a man so to do, \Yho hath not received a 
true understanding from the Lord, nor is acquainted with 
the leadings and outgoings of Him, who is pure. He 
that is tender and truly sensible, may discern when he 
resisteth, when he . quench eth, or when he grieveth the 
Spirit of the Lord ; but, he that is not truly enlightened, 
nor in the true sense, cannot do so. The Scribes and 
Pharisees, who were interpreters of the law, and very 
strict in outward observations and ordinances, &c., who 
blamed their fathers for killing the prophets, and said, if 
they had been in the days of the prophets, they would 
not have dealt so w^ith them as their fathers did ; yet, 
concerning these, said Stephen, ''Ye stiff-necked, and 
uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do also resist the Holy 
Ghost ; as your fathers did, so do ye," For, till the stiif 
will and stiff wisdom be brought down in a man, he can- 
not but resist God's Spirit, and fight for his notions and 
practices, according to his apprehensions of the letter, 
against the testimony of God's Spirit and power. 

Paul, who walked, according to the letter of the law, 
blameless, yet resisted the Spirit which gave forth the 
law. He must know the Spirit, receive the Spirit, live in 
the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of 
the flesh, who would be found not resisting God's Spirit. 
He who is indeed turned to the redeeming arm, to Christ 
the power of God, and gathered into the power, and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 123 

dwelleth in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus, and 
is tauglit and led by Him from path to path, and from 
pasture to pasture, as the Lamb, the Shepherd, goes before 
and guides him ; — he is preserved from grieving the 
Holy Spirit, which moves and draws, instructs and quick- 
ens, all that are born of God. But he that is only in the 
letter, and in the form of godliness, out of the inward 
life and power, he is of that birth, mind, nature, and 
spirit, which cannot but resist God's Spirit. He knoweth 
not, he heedeth not, His drawings. His movings, His light, 
His life — the way thereof, — either in his own heart, or 
in the hearts of others ; and so, walks in a way of rebel- 
ling against and resisting Him, who is the only Saviour 
and Redeemer of the soul. See Job, xxix. 3, 4, and xxiv. 
13. O that thou mightst learn to wait aright to learn 
these things ! and come into the true sense and discerning 
of the Spirit and power of the Lord, that thou mightst 
not any more resist it, neither in thyself, nor in others. 

The Lord open thy heart, and lay thy spirit lov/ before 
him ; that thou may est come into a right sense and judg- 
ment, concerning the state of thine own soul ; and m^ayest 
experience the Lord manifesting things to thee, as indeed 
they are. I. P. 

15th of Fifth Month, 1671. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

Friend! — Wait to receive an understanding from 
the Lord, that thou mayest come truly to know, whether 
thou hast resisted God's Spirit, or no ; that thou lose not 
the advantage of making peace with thy adversary, while 
thou art in the way with him. 

1 would not have thee deceived about that virtue, 
life, and power which redeems the soul. For, there is no 
other Redeemer besides the Lord Jesus Christ, and he 
redeems by the grace of his Spirit, and by faith iu his 



124 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

blood, which cleanseth from sin ; which blood is sprinkled 
on the consciences of those that believe, — and that, not 
in the darkness, but in the light ; as is said in 1 John, i. 7 
" If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have 
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus 
Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." Under the 
law, the blood of bulls and goats was sprinkled outwardly, 
on the outward things, which sanctified to the purifying 
of the outward things ; but, under the gospel, the blood 
of the Lamb is sprinkled inwardly, upon inward and 
heavenly things. See Heb. ix. 13, 14, and 22, 23, and ch. 
X. 22, and xii. 24. O that thou didst truly and under- 
standingly know the difference, between thy oicn applying 
Christ's blood to thyself, and the Lamb's s-pnnJding it upon 
thee, and uashing thy soul therein! Eev. i. 5, and also, 
between thy oicn believing, according to thy own appre- 
hension of things, and his giving thee to believe in the light 
of his Spirit ! and, between thy aivn praying in thy own 
spirit, and his giving thee to pray in his Spirit I 

Ah I the truth of our God is precious I the knowledge 
of his Christ precious ! *It is a precious thing, to have the 
Son revealed by the Father to the renewed mind. God 
himself is the teacher, in the new covenant, of all the true 
disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, O how do the 
teachings of his Spirit differ, from all the knowledge and 
learning men can attain unto of themselves I The Lord give 
thee the true understanding ; and to know what it is to 
begin thy religion in his Spirit ; and batter down and 
bring to nought the understanding in thee, which is not 
true ; tiiat thou mayest not find thy soul deeply deceived 
at last, as to the true knowledge of Christ and mysteries 
of God's kingdom, — and so, perish forever ! 

This, in very dear, true, and tender love, from him, who 
most sincerely and heartily wisheth well to thee, I. P. 

17th of Fifth MoDtli, 1671. 



liETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 125 

LETTEE XLV. 

Respecting some Snares of the Adversary to Distress the Soul. 
To Bridget Atley. 

Dear Friend, — I am sensible of thy sore travail and 
deep distress, and how hard it is for thee to meet with that 
which is comfortable and refreshing, and how easily again 
it is lost ; and — whence it ariseth, — even, from the work- 
ing of the enemy in a mystery of deceit in thy heart ; 
wherein thou dost not perceive nor suspect him, but 
swallowest down his baits, and so he smites thee with his 
hook, and thereby draws thee back into the region of 
darkness ; and then, entereth that part in thee w^hich is in 
nature one with him, filling it with his wickedness ; and 
then, laying loads of accusations upon thee, as if they were 
true. These are not strange things to the travellers after 
the Lord, but such as are usually met with in the like 
cases : but, if thy eye were made single and opened by the 
Lord, thou wouldst see those baits, and turn from that, 
which thou now so readily swallowest down ; and so, avoid 
the stroke, and keep thy station, in the light and mercy 
of the Lord. Thou must not look so much at the evil 
that is nigh, but rather at that, which stands ready to pity 
and help, — and which hath pitied and helped thy dis- 
tressed soul, and will pity and help it again. Why is 
there a mercy-seat, but for the sinner to look towards in 
time of need ? 

Neither must thou hearken to the questionings of the 
insnaring questioner : but, cleave to that which shuts them 
out, keeping to the sense of the love and mercy, when the 
Lord is kind and tender to thee. When the enemy 
entered thy habitation again, and broke thy rest, peace, 
11^ 



126 LETTER? OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

and eDJoyment of the Lord: again, an earnest desire after 
cleansing arose in thee : not from the life, bat in the evil ; 
this was also a means to rob thee of that, which, in its 
abiding and powerful operation, cleanseth the heart ; and 
here, thou wouldst be limiting the Lord in his dealings, 
who worketh according to the counsel of his own will, and 
yisiteth when and where he pleaseth. And thus the enemy 
having caught thee with his mysterious workings, he then 
draws thee into the pit of darkness, where the remem- 
brance of life, and the sense of mercy and love, vanisheth ; 
and there is no help for thee, by any thing thou canst do 
or think. But, be patient, till the Lord's tender mercy 
and love visit thee again ; and then, look up to him against 
this and such like snares, which would come between thee 
and the appearance of the Lord's love ; that thou mayest 
feel more of his abidings with thee, and of the sweet effects 
thereof. For, these things are not to destroy thee, but, to 
teach thee wisdom ; which the Lord is able, through many- 
exercises and sore trials, to bestow upon thee ; which my 
soul will exceedingly rejoice to hear the tidings of; that 
thy heart may be rid of all that burdeneth, and filled 
with all it rightly desires after, in the proper season and 
goodness of the Lord : to whose wise ordering and tender 
mercv I commit thee, remainino;, Thv faithful Friend, 

LP. 



LETTEE XLVL 

Weighty Counsel. 

To Sir William Aemoeer 'so styled). 

Friend, — The weighty sense of an eternal condition 
after this life, hath been upon my heart from my child- 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTOX. 127 

hood ; and it is often with me, that I must give an ac- 
count to God, when I pass out of this transitory world, of 
all things done in the body ; and shall enter into eternal 
rest and blessedness, or eternal woe or misery. 

This causeth me to call upon the Lord daily, for grace 
and wisdom from him ; that my conscience, being cleansed 
through the blood of his Son, may be kept void of offence, 
both towards him and men. And truly, (I speak not 
boastingiy, but in the fear of the Lord, and in the sense 
of his goodness and tender mercy to me,) my heart is pre- 
served in love and innocency towards those, who most 
injuriously, and without provocation on my part, have 
taken away my liberty, for aught I know, for my whole 
lifetime. What thou further intendest towards me, the 
Lord knows, to whom I have committed my cause : but 
this is on my heart to express to thee, because, when I 
was with thee thou spakest words to this purpose, that we 
wished thee hanged, or would be glad if thou wert hanged. 
God, who knows my heart, is witness, that I wish thee no 
evil, neither to thee nor thy family ; but wish, thou may- 
est avoid all such things, as may bring his wrath and 
curse upon thee, either in this world or the world to 
come. 

And, friend, do not provoke the Lord by afflicting 
those that fear him ; but, cease to do evil, learn to do 
well ; and this will please the Lord, and is more accept- 
a])le to him, than all the worship that can be offered up to 
him, without this. 

1 have sent thee a little book, as a token of my love, 
desiring thee to peruse it seriously. O ! do not endeavour 
to bring me into such a condition, as is there related. I 
have had greater light, in the way into which the Lord 
hath led me, than this man had ; and, in that light, I 
have seen, that I ought not to swear, but to give the 

Yea " and " Nay " of truth, which comes from the Chris- * 



u 



128 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

tian nature, and is of far more certainty and assurance 
than swearing. For, the man that swears may easily 
break his oath, but he that keeps to the truth cannot alter 
his yea and nay, but it stands in the trutlt ; and this our 
Lord and Master hath set above, and on the top of, and 
instead of swearing ; which, if we should vary from and 
deny, we should deny him who hath taught us not to swear. 
Indeed, if we had not learnt it of the Lord, and if it was 
not by him required of us, we should rather swear than 
otherwise ; for, we would very willingly give men satisfac- 
tion, in those particulars which they require us to swear 
about. 

Friend, God hath given thee an immortal soul, and doth 
require of thee righteousness towards thy fellow-creatures, 
and temperance and moderation of spirit, and sensibleness 
of the judgment to come after this life. Thou art stricken 
in years, and thou hast but a little moment left remaining 
of thy time ; and then, it will be determined concerning 
thy soul, what or how it shall be forever ! Let the words 
of love, truth, and innocency from me, prevail upon thee 
to be serious, and to let in the sense and fear of God upon 
thy heart. Thou hast spent much time in serving man ; 
O spend a little in serving and fearing God ! There is 
somewhat, which is pure, of God, appointed by him to 
exercise the conscience towards him. Thou hast such a 
thing near thee. O that thou mightst know it, and be 
joined to it ! for, till then, thou canst never truly serve 
nor fear the Lord ; but, may est spend thy time here in 
a vain show, and at last be judged and condemned by 
the Lord, and lie down in eternal sorrow ; which, it is the 
desire of my heart, may not be thy portion from the hand 
of the Lord. 

This is from a sufferer by thee, who never gave thee the 
leaet cause or provocation so to deal with me. I. P. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 129 

LETTEK XLVIL 

On an Unfaithful Profession of the Truth. 
To Abraham Grimsden". 

Friend, — Thou hast made some profession of Truth, 
aud at times come amongst us ; but, whether thou hast 
been changed thereby, and been faithful to the Lord in 
what has been made manifest to thee, belongs unto thee 
diligently to inquire. There is no safe dallying with 
Truth. He that puts his hand to the plough, must not 
look back at any thing of this world ; but, take up the 
cross and follow Christ, in the single-hearted obedience, 
hating father, mother, goods, lands, wife, yea, all for His 
sake ; or he is not worthy of Him. The good hand of the 
Lord is with his people, and he blesseth them both in- 
wardly and outwardly ; and, they that seek the kingdom 
of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, in the first place, 
have other things also added : but, they that neglect the 
kingdom, and are unfaithful to Truth, seeking the world 
before it, the hand of the Lord goes forth against them, 
and they, many times, miss of that also of the world, 
which they seek and labour for. 

Truth is honourable. O ! take heed of bringing a re- 
proach upon it, by pretending to it, and yet, not being of 
it, in the pure sense and obedience, which it begets and 
brings forth in the hearts and lives of the faithful. But, 
if any be careless and unfaithful to what they are con- 
vinced of, and so, for the present, bring a reproach upon 
God's Truth, which is altogether innocent thereof; the 
Lord, in his due time, will wipe off that reproach from his 
Truth and people; but, the sorrow and burden will light 
upon themselves, which will be very bitter and heavy to 

I 



130 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

them, in the day that the Lord shall visit them with his 
righteous judgments. 

consider rightly and truly ! It had been better for 
thee, thou hadst never known Truth, nor been directed 
to the principle and path of righteousness ; than, aftei 
direction thereto, to turn from the holy commandments, 
and deny obedience to the righteous One. The Lord give 
thee true sense and repentance, if it be his holy pleasure, 
and raise thee out of this world's spirit, to live to him in 
his own pure Spirit. It is easy to profess and make a 
show of Truth, but hard to come into it. It is very hard 
to the earthly mind, to part with that w^hich must be 
parted with for it, before the soul can come to possess and 
enjoy it. Profession of truth, without the life and power, 
is but a slippery place, which men may easily slide from ; 
nay, indeed, if men be not in the life and power, they can 
hardly be kept from that, which will stain their profes- 
sion. The Lord, who searcheth the heart, knows how it 
is with thee : O consider thy ways, and fear before him, 
and take heed of taking his name in vain, for he will not 
hold such guiltless ! 

1 am, in this, faithful and friendly to thy soul, desiring 
its eternal welfare, and that it may not forever perish from 
the presence and power of the Lord. I. P. 



LETTEE XLVIIL 



Christ the Eesurrection and the Life. On His Appearance in the 
Flesh, &c. 

Friend, — God breathed into man the breath of life, 
and man thereby became a living soul to God, to whom 
by transgression he died. But Christ (who was before 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PE^s'INGTON. 131 

Abraham, and, in due time, took up that body prepared 
by the Father,) is the resurrection and the life, who, from 
the Father, breathes life into man again, and so he comes 
to live again. And, man, being quickened by Christ, is 
to rise up from the dead, and travel with Christ into the 
land of the living. And, Christ is ail to the believers, in 
whom dwells all fulness ; the circumcision is in him, the 
baptism in him, and the righteousness, rest, and peace 
also ; yea, in him are all the treasures of wisdom and 
knowledge ; and, he is made of God, unto them that be- 
lieve in him, v/isdom, righteousness, sanctification, and re- 
demption. Now, it is very precious to feel this ; but, of 
little value to imagine or comprehend apprehensions about 
this. For, the end of words is to bring men to the thing ; 
but, the Scribes and Pharisees, by their apprehensions 
upon the words given forth by the Spirit, missed of the 
thing : (though, they thought they missed not, but were 
blessed in the knowledge of the law, and they that knew 
not the law were cursed ;) and the same spirit is alive in 
many that profess Truth now, who, by their understanding 
of Scripture words, are kept from the thing which the 
Scriptures testify of. What did Christ come in the flesh 
and suffer for, but to unite and reconcile to God ? and, 
what is the antichristian way of erring from the Truth, 
but to cry up the appearance of Christ in the flesh, his 
sufferings, resurrection, ascension, &c., in that spirit, 
wherein the true union and reconciliation is not witnessed? 
If we receive the light, and walk in the light, as God is in 
the light, then have we a share in his Son's death and 
atonement, and his blood cleanseth from unrighteousness; 
but not otherwise. 

O that all who truly desire salvation, might know the 
way hither, and receive that from God, which cleanseth 
and keepeth clean. Amen. I. P. 



132 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

LETTER XLIX. 

To one who sent a Paper of Eichard Baxter's. 

Dear Friend, — Whom I often remember with love 
and meltings of heart ; desiring of God, that thou mayest 
enjoy, in this world, what of his presence and pure life he 
judgeth fit for thee, and that thy soul may, after this life, 
sit down in rest and peace with him forever. 

I received from thee a paper of Eichard Baxter's, sent, 
I believe, in love ; and, in love, am I pressed to return 
unto thee my sense thereof. It seems to me very useful 
and weighty so far as it goes ; but, indeed, there is a great 
defect in it, in not directing sinners to that principle of 
life and power, wherein and whereby they may do that, 
which he exhorteth them to do. For, how can they come 
to a true sensibility or repentance, or join in covenant with 
God through Christ, until they know and receive some- 
what from God, wherein it may be done? O my dear 
Friend ! that he, and thou, and all who in any measure 
turn from this world, and do indeed desire life eternal, 
might know the instruction of life, and feel that from God 
wherein he is known, loved, and joined with in covenant; 
that so, there might be a pure beginning, a pure .growth 
and going on unto perfection, and not notions concerning 
things set up in the earthly understanding, which easily 
putrefy and defile ; but, pure life, felt and enjoyed in the 
heart, which is undefiled, and never saw nor shall see cor- 
ruption. I have not freedom to write many words ; but, 
my love breathes for thee, and my life desires fellowship 
with thee, (if it may seem good unto my God,) in that 
which is pure of him, and will remain so forever. 

And, whatever men may say or think of me, I have no 
other religion now, than I had from the beginning ; only, 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 133 

a clearer leading into and guidance by that principle of 
life, in and through which, it pleased the Lord then to 
quicken me. And this is it, which I have daily expe- 
rience of in my heart ; that it is no less than the light of 
the everlasting day, in which the renewed man is to walk, 
and no less than the life of the Son, (whom God gave a 
ransom for sinners,) which can quicken man so to do; 
and, none but Christ, none but Christ, by his life revealed 
in the soul, and blood shed there to wash it, can save the 
poor sinner from sin, wrath, and misery ; and, my hope is 
not in what I have done, do, or can do ; but, in what he 
hath done without me, and also doth in me. 

This is the account of my love unto thee, drawn forth 
at this time by the outward expression of thine in sending 
that paper, who remain, and, from my first acquaintance, 
have ever been, a Friend and lover of thee. I. P. 

Peter^s Chalfonte, 
19th of Sixth Month, 1665. 



LETTER L. 



Of the Gospel state in general, and of the state of Believers in 
particular. 

Friend, — The Lord God on whom I wait, and whom I 
worship in spirit and truth, and whom it is my delight to 
serve and obey, hath divers times engaged my mind to 
write to thee in true and tender love. There is somewhat, 
also, on my heart at this time to thee, concerning the state 
of the gospel, in general, and, in particular, concerning 
the state and condition of those, who truly know and serve 
the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of saints. 

The state of the gospel in general, is a state of rederap- 
12 



134 LETTERS OE ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

tion and deliverance from the soul's enemies; of which 
redemption every soul partakes, accordin-g to its faith in 
and obedience to the Truth, and according to it5 growth 
in Him who is true. The babes in Christ and little chil- 
dren, their sins are forgiven them for His name's sake. 
The young men have fought valiantly, and have overcome 
the wicked one. The old men. or elders in the Truth, 
they are experienced in the heavenly wisdom and knowl- 
edge of Him, who is from the beginning. 

Now, there are some things which belong to all in gen- 
eral, or which are common to all, and somewhat which is 
peculiar to each member in particular. These things, 
which belong to all in general, are very many ; but, it is 
only on my heart to mention to thee at this time those few, 
which the apostle recites together in Eph. iv. 4, 5, 6, which 
indeed comprehend much ; and, he that knoweth and par- 
taketh of them, hath also a share in, and benefit by, all 
the rest. First, he saith, ''' There is one body." There is 
one head ; and this one head hath one body, of which all 
that are truly living are members. Secondly, " There is 
one Spirit," which quickens, keeps alive, and gives nour- 
ishment to, ordereth, comforteth, defendeth this one body. 
Thirdly, " There is one hope of" their " calling ; " for they 
are all called from the land of darkness, and out of the 
shadow and dominion of death, to travel towards an inher- 
itance of light, and life everlasting. Fourthly, There is 
" one Lord," who hath power over, and the rule and do- 
minion of this one body ; to whom they are all to give an 
account daily of what they do, and at the last day, of what 
hath been done in their body of flesh. Fifthly, There is 
"one faith," wherewith they all believe in, and draw vir- 
tue from the head ; which faith is the gift of G(^>d, and 
springs from the root of life in his Son, and is of another 
nature than that nattiral ability of believing, which is 
found in mankind. Sixthly, There is " one baptism/' by 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 185 

the one Spirit ; whereby, all the true members are bap- 
tized into the one living body, and come to partake of the 
virtue, benefits, and privileges thereof. Lastly, There is 
" one God and Father of all," who begat them all, and is 
to be worshipped by them all, as their Lord and God ; he 
being witnessed and experienced by them to be " above 
all, and through all, and in " them ^' all." This is the state 
in general, the gospel state, into which Christ gives his 
sheep, his Father's children, entrance; and, it is a blessed 
thing to know and experience this state, that is, to have a 
real interest in, and really to partake of these things. 

The state of every one in particular is thus ; " Unto 
every one " in particular " is given grace, according to the 
measure of the gift of Christ." Grace and truth come by 
Jesus Christ ; for the fulness is his, yea, he is the fulness ; 
and of his fulness doth he give a measure to each member 
in particular. Not to all a like proportion, but to every 
one some ; as he pleaseth to distribute and proportion out 
the gift of his grace to them. For, it is his own, and he 
may dispense his gifts and heavenly talents as he pleas- 
eth ; and, according to the state of each in the body, and 
according to their work and service, so doth he proportion 
out his gift of grace to them. Now, this is that which 
every one is to mind ; even, the grace given to them, their 
own gift from Christ, to grow in that, and to be what they 
are in that. He that hath none of this grace, he is none 
of Christ's ; and he that hath received the grace, the free 
gift, he is to keep to the measure of it, in all he is and 
does. 

Now, shall I say to thee, feel my love in these lines ? or, 
shall I not rather say, feel the love of my God, who visits 
thee yet again, and would not have thee perish, in resist- 
ing his Holy Spirit, and slightnig the grace and truth 
which is by Jesus Christ, which is now powerfully revealed 
in many hearts : — blessed be he, who hath visited his 
people vv^ith the lioru of salvation. I. P. 



136 ' LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

LETTER LI. 

On Shunning the Cross. 
To Catherine Pordage. 

Ah ! my poor, distressed, entangled Friend, while thou 
seekest to avoid the snare, thou deeply runnest into it : for, 
thou art feeding on the tree of knowledge, in giving way 
to these thoughts, reasonings, and suggestions, which keep 
thee from obedience to that, which hath been made mani- 
fest to thy understanding. And thou niayest well be feeble 
in thy mind, while thou art thus separated from Him who 
is thy strength, and lettest in his enemy. This is not the 
right feebleness of mind which God pities, nor the right 
way of waiting to receive strength. Why shouldst not 
thou act, so far as God gives thee light ? and why shouldst 
thou not appear willing to obey him, even in little things, 
so far as he hath given thee light? What if I should say, 
that all this is but the subtlety of the serpent's wisdom to 
avoid the cross, and is not that simplicity and plainness 
of heart towards God, which thou takest it to be ; and that 
thou art loath to be so poor, and low, and mean in the eyes 
of others, as this practice would make thee appear ? 

Thy Friend in the Truth, and in sincere love, I. P. 

Ameksham, 
25th of Mnth Month, 1675. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 137 

LETTER LIL 

On Love, Meekness, and Watching over each other. 
To Fkiends in Amersham, 

Friends, — Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness ; 
and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, 
and not laying accusations one against another ; but pray- 
ing one for another, and helping one another up with a 
tender hand, if there has been any slip or fall ; and wait- 
ing till the Lord gives sense and repentance, if sense and 
repentance in any be wanting. O ! wait to feel this spirit, 
and to be guided to walk in this spirit, that ye may enjoy 
the Lord in sweetness, and walk sweetly, meekly, ten-^ 
derly, peaceably, and lovingly one wdth another. And 
then, ye will be a praise to the Lord ; and any thing that 
is, or hath been, or may be amiss, ye will come over in the 
true dominion, even in the Lamb's dominion ; and, that 
which is contrary shall be trampled upon, as life rises 
and rules in you. So, watch your hearts and ways ; and 
watch one over another, in that which is gentle and ten- 
der, and knows it can neither preserve itself, nor help 
another out of the snare ; but the Lord must be waited 
upon, to do this in and for us all. So, mind Truth, the 
service, enjoyment, and possession of it in your hearts ; 
and so to walk, as ye may bring no disgrace upon it, but 
may be a good savour in the places where ye live — the 
meek, innocent, tender, righteous life reigning in you, 
governing over you, and shining through you, in the eyes 
of all with whom ye converse. 

Your Friend in the Truth, and a desirer of your wel- 
fare and prosperity therein, I. P. 

Aylesbury, 
4th of Third Month, 1667. 
12^ 



138 LETTEr.S OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON, 

■» 

LETTER LIII. 

On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ. 

O! Friend, — That thou hadst the true sense of the 
drift of my heart in writing and sending things to thee ! 
— which is and hath been this — that thou mightst be 
acquainted with that of God in the heart, which quickens 
to him : and, in the light of that, mightst try thy heart 
and ways, and so, only justify in thyself what God justi- 
fies, and let all else go. 

Shall the Lord appear mightily on the earth, and Israel 
not know him ? Shall the professors of this age under- 
stand no more his appearance in Spirit, than the Jews did 
his appearance in flesh ? Shall they stumble at the very 
same stumbling stone? Yes, the same stumbling stone is 
laid, for that wisdom to stumble at, as in all generations ; 
and, there is no avoiding stumbling, but by coming out 
of that wisdom into babe-like simplicity, which gives 
entrance into pure, heavenly wisdom. And this I dare 
affirm, as in God's presence and in his pure fear, having 
received the sense thereof from him — that there is none 
that opposeth this his present appearance, (by the greatest 
knowledge and wisdom of their comprehensions from the 
letter,) but would also have opposed and denied his 
appearance in that body of flesh, had they lived in that 
day. For, the wisdom which they gathered from the letter 
did not reveal Christ in that day, but the Father ; and 
the same reveals Him in this day. 

O that thou couldst feel the pure revelation from the 
Father to thy heart ! O wait for a new heart, a new ear, 
a new eye ! even to feel the pure in thee, and thy mind 
changed by the pure, that all things may become new to 
thee ; the Scriptures new, (they are so, indeed, when God 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGT0:N'. 139 

opens them,) duties new, ordinances new, graces new, 
experiences new; a new ctiurch of the Spirit's building, 
wherein He and thy soul may dwell together ; and thou 
mayest be able to say, in the presence of the Lord, This 
is a city of God's own building, the foundation whereof is 
laid with sapphires, whose walls are salvation, and its 
gates praise! I. P. 

12th of Third Month, 1669. 



LETTER LIV. 

To one under Divine Visitation. 

Oh! dear Friend, — The eternal love of my Father 
is to thee ; and, because he loves thee, and would entirely 
enjoy thee, therefore doth he so grievously batter and 
break down that which stands in the way. What he is 
doing towards thee, thou canst not know now, but thou 
shalt know hereafter. Only be still, and wait for the 
springing up of hope, in the seasons the Father sees neces- 
sary ; that thou mayest not faint under his hand, but be 
supported by his secret power, until his work be finished. 
The great thing necessary for thee at present to know, is, 
the drawings of his Spirit ; that thou mayest not igno- 
rantly withstand or neglect them, and protract the day of 
thy redemption. 

Oh ! look not after great things : — small breathings, 
small desires after the Lord, if true and pure, are sweet 
beginnings of life. Take heed of desj)ising " the day of 
small things," by looking after some great visitation, pro- 
portionable to thy distress, according to thy eye. Nay, 
thou must become a child, thou must lose thy own will 
quite by degrees. Thou must wait for life to be measured 



140 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

out by the Father, and be content with what proportion, 
and at what time, he shall please to measure. 

Oh ! be little, be little ; and then, thou wilt be content 
with little; and if thou feel, now and then, a check or a 
secret smiting, — in that is the Father's love ; be not over- 
wise, nor over-eager, in thy own willing, running, and 
desiring, and thou mayest feel it so ; and by degrees come 
to the knowledge of thy Guide, who will lead thee, step 
by step, in the jDath of life, and teach thee to follow, and, 
in his own season, powerfully judge that which cannot, 
nor will not follow. Be still, and wait for light and 
strength ; and desire not to know or comprehend but to 
be known and comprehended in the love and life, which 
seeks out, gathers and preserves the lost sheep. 

I remain thy dear Friend, and a well-wisher to thy soul, 
in the love of my Father. I. P. 



LETTER LV. 



The Kingdom of God within. Of the New Covenant. Professors 
of the Day. Trial of spirits. Exhortation to wait for, and walk 
in the Spirit. 

Dear Friend, — I received thy letter kindly, and in 
the tenderness of love, which desires thy enjoyment of the 
Lord in this world, and the eternal welfare of thy soul 
with him forever. 

It is a great matter, to have the mind rightly guided to 
that wherein God appears, that the soul may wait at the 
posts of wisdom to hear wisdom's voice ; and he that hears 
and observes wisdom's voice, what saith wisdom concern- 
ing such an one ? "I will pour out my spirit unto you, 
I will make known my words unto you." Prov. i. 23. 



m 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 141 

Thou hast read in the Scriptures, of the kingdom of 
God, which, Christ told the Pharisees, was within them. 
He also, in parables, expressed what it was like ; even, 
like a grain of mustard seed, like a pearl of great price, 
like a lost groat, or piece of silver, like a treasure hid in a 
field, like leaven, &c. Now, O that thou mightst come 
to the discerning of this. Is there any such thing in thee ? 
Surely, there is. Dost thou know it? art thou in union 
with it ? is it grown and enlarged in thee ? is there room 
made for it, and doth it overspread thy heart ? that it 
were thus with thee ! 

Whereas thou sayest, The covenant, the new covenant, 
is contained in the Scriptures ; that expression of thine is 
not clear, and to the nature of the thing. There are, 
indeed, descriptions of the covenant in the Scriptures ; but, 
the covenant itself is an agreement of life and peace, made 
with the soul in the Lord Jesus Christ, upon his believing 
in His power and obeying His voice ; according to that 
Scripture, " Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will 
make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure 
mercies of David." Isaiah, Iv. 3. Now, this is it the soul 
is to wait for ; even to feel the power of life breaking the 
bonds of death, and opening the ear to the voice of God's 
Spirit, that it may receive the impressions thereof, and 
feel the new creation inwardly, the new heart, the new 
mind, the new law of life, written within by the finger of 
God's Spirit, even the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus. And then, this law is the rule inwardly as the out- 
ward law was the rule to the outward Jews. 

Thou thinkest me somewhat too sharp and severe, in 
my sentence concerning the ministers [of the day]. I do 
not remember that passage. I have received great mercy, 
and I would not be sharp or severe towards any. If, 
therefore, any such thing was, be assured it was in faith- 
fulness to the Lord. All sorts of Christians own Christ 



142 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

in words, but all do not distinguish, discern, [nor are] 
subject to the appearances of his Spirit and power ; but 
resist, gainsay, and oppose, through error and mistakes at 
first, till at length they come to hardness. These are the 
builders ^yho refuse the Corner-stone. The builders re- 
jected Christ's appearance in flesh, in the days of his flesh ; 
• and tlfe builders again refuse his appearance in spirit, in 
this day of his Spirit. O that any who are tender among 
them might be sensible of it, that they might not draw 
down God's severity and sharpness upon their heads ! 
which, if they do, it is not our joy, but matter of grief to 
us. And, Friend, the state of profession is not what it 
was, when thou and I were acquainted ; but, a withered 
state in comparison of that. I can truly say, concerning 
many professors, O that I could find them to be now, what 
they were twenty years ago ! They have got more head- 
knowledge ; but, that savour of life, which then was in 
them, is not now to be found among them. Truly, I speak 
not othervvise concerning them, but as I feel the Spirit of 
the Lord testifying in me ; neither would I have men- 
tioned this at this time, but for thy sake. Whatever is of 
God in any, my heart cannot but ovrn : but, many take 
that to be of God, (that fear, that faith, that love, those 
prayers, those hopes, that peace, that joy, &c.) which is 
not of him. O how precious is that, which truly and 
rightly distinguisheth ! " My sheep hear my voice." The 
voice of the Shepherd distinguisheth every deceit and 
every deceiver. 

But, whereas thou sayest. The spirits are to be tried by 
the Scriptures ; I have found it otherwise in my expe- 
rience. The Scriptures may try words ; but, nothing can 
try spirits, but the Spirit. " I will know," said the apos- 
tle, " not the words of them that are puffed up, but the 
power." Deceivers may come with Scripture words ; but 
they cannot come with the true power. Therefore, the 



liiii 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 143 

apostle John, ^yIio bade the believers try the spirits, told 
them, they had an unction from the Holy One, and pointed 
them to the anointing. 1 John, ii. 20 & 27. But, who 
can judge of this, but he that hath the anointing, and is 
taught of the Lord to try things by it ? he knows how it 
tries, and what a certain judgment it gives concerning the 
nature of things, and concerning every voice and every 
appearance. The Spirit of God searcheth all things, dis- 
cerns all things, discovers all things, — every snare, every 
device of the enemy, the net spread ever so secretly ; 
blessed are they, whose eyes are opened and kept open by 
Him ! 

There was a time of great darkness befell me, wherein 
all that I had known and formerly experienced, was hid 
from me; and I cried out, "I know not the Lord; and 
yet, I cannot live" without him ; — O ! what shall I do ? '' 
&c., but I never denied Christ to be the way of salvation, 
in my deepest darkness and distress. And now, at length, 
— blessed be the Lord ! — I have lived to see the day, 
wherein he is made of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanc- 
tification, and redemption, to me; and I feel his blood 
sprinkled and overflowing, which makes whiter than 
snow ; and find him to be the mercy-seat, through whom I 
have access to God ; and live by mercy and the deep com- 
passions of God towards me, which, because they fail not, 
but are daily renewed upon me, therefore is my soul pre- 
served in life before my God. 

O wait to know that wherein the Lord inwardly 
appears ! and take up the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 
to every thing that is contrary to God ; that, it all may 
be crucified in thee, that thy soul may live in the abun- 
dance of life and peace. God is not straitened to any of 
the children ; O that none of them may be straitened in 
their own bowels ! And, be not discouraged because of 
any weakness, or because of thy age. What knowest 



144 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

thou, what the Lord will do for thee? Thy weakness is 
not thy disadvantage, but advantage ; for the weaker thou 
art in thyself, the fitter art thou to have Christ's power 
revealed and manifested in thee. Only wait to know that 
wherein God appears in thy heart, even the holy seed, the 
immortal seed of life ; that that may be discerned, distin- 
guished and have scope in thee ; that it may spring up in 
thy heart and live in thee, and gather thee into itself, and 
leaven thee all over with its nature ; that thou may est be 
a new lump, and mayest w^alk before God, not in the old- 
ness of thy own literal knowledge or apprehensions of 
things, but in the newness of his Spirit. 

The Lord appear to thee, in the light and demonstration 
of his spirit in thy heart and conscience, — touch thee, 
quicken thee, lead thee, — guide and make thee sensible 
of every appearance of his ; that no motion or drawing of 
his Spirit may be quenched in thee, nor any motion of the 
contrary spirit, under any deceivableness, hearkened to ; 
that thou mayest travel faithfully, and come to the end 
of thy travels with joy and full peace, reaping the sheaves 
in life everlasting, of all that thou hast sown to the Spirit. 

This is the earnest and single desire of my soul for thee, 
who am thy true and faithful Friend, and an hearty well- 
wisher to thee and thine. I. P. 



LETTER LVL 



Encouragement to look up to the Lord, amidst his Chastenings and 
the Smitings of tlie Enemy. 

Friend, — Thy advantage in thy travels is great over 
what it hath been ; the Lord having given thee a better 
sight both of thy enemies, and of that wherein his strength 
against them is revealed. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 145 

Now, what remains? but that thou hope in him, and 
breathe unto him, and hang upon him ; that his virtue 
may flow into thee, and the mountains and difficulties may- 
pass away, before the presence of the Seed, who is revealed 
in thee. Look down no more, look out no more ; but, 
dwell with thy Beloved, in the tent that he hath pitched 
for thee. Let him do what he will, let him appear how 
he will, wait on him in the daily exercise ; stand still in 
the faith, and see him working out thy salvation, and 
scattering the bones of them that have besieged thee. 
Think not hardly of him, by no means ; question not his 
carrying on of his work. He knows what yet he hath to 
do, and what stratagem the enemy yet hath to surprise 
and entangle thee. O feel his arm stretched out for thee ! 
and be not so much discouraged, in the sight of what is 
yet to be done, as comforted in his good-will towards thee. 
'T is true, he hath chastened thee with rods and sore afflic- 
tions ; but, did he ever take away his loving kindness from 
thee ? or did his faithfulness ever fail in the sorest, black- 
est, thickest, darkest night that ever befell thee? And 
breathe to him, for the carrying on of his work ; that thou 
mayest feel his presence and life, getting dominion over 
death daily in thee, more and more. And wait to feel 
strength of life, that thy growth may be pure, and the 
holy seed may have dominion and be all in thee. I. P. 

8th of the Eighth Montli, 1666. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

The enemy will be laying snares, and forging subtle 
devices to darken and bow thee down, which, (thou, not 
being hasty to believe, join with, and let in as true, but 
waiting on the Lord in singleness, fear, and humility,) 
his light will spring up in thee, and help thee to discern. 
And oh ! how sweet will it be for thee, who hast so often 
13 K 



146 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

been ensnared, to escape the gins and nets of the fowler, 
and to dwell in the rest and peace, which thy soul hath 
tasted of, and which is the proper place of thy habitation. 
Indeed, the Lord's thoughts have not been toAvards thee, 
as thou hast apprehended all along. His anger was to- 
.wards the enemy, towards the oppressor, not towards thee. 
Nor doth He judge and smite the mind, after that manner 
that the enemy doth accuse ; but, according to his own 
nature, sweetness, and tender love. And, His judgments 
and smitings have other effects, than the serpent's accus- 
ings and piercings ; for, they do not drive from Him, but, 
they melt, and tender and prepare the heart for union with 
Him. O ! keep close to the measure of life, wherein thou 
mayest discern and distinguish these things ; and, take 
heed of letting in one bowing-down thought, (how mani- 
fest or demonstrative soever,) but look up to him who hath 
freely loved, and hath abounded in mercy towards thee ; 
that in the fa*th, patience, stillness, and meekness of his 
seed, thou mayest be found always waiting upon him, in 
the several exercises, wherewith he shall daily see good to 
exercise thee ; till he bring forth his seed in dominion in 
thee, and thereby give thee thy desired and expected .end. 

LP. 

9th of the Eighth Month, 1666. 



LETTEE LVIL 

>f the Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its Professors. 

To Colonel Keneick. 

The gospel dispensation consists in spirit and power. 
The kingdom which Christ and his apostles preached, 
(which the true believers were to receive, and to wait for 
an entrance to be ministered to tliem into,) stood not in 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIISGTON. 147 

word, but in power. Now, there are four sorts of profes- 
sors of the Christian religion in this our day, one sort 
whereof only, are acquainted with the gospel dispensation. 

First, There is one sort, which have been nurtured in a 
profession of Christianity by education, and have improved 
it by study, but have never known the power, virtue, ancj 
inward life thereof; but, as men, with the man's part, wis- 
dom, understanding, and seriousness of mind, have con- 
sidered of the truth and weight of things contained in the 
Scriptures, and so have received somewhat of the holy 
doctrine into their natural understanding, and given them- 
selves up to the observation and practice thereof, accord- 
ing as they have apprehended and understood things. 
These have become more serious and excellent men than 
others, but fall very far short of the nature and state of 
Christianity; yea, the strictest among these, many times, 
become the greatest opposers and persecutors of true Chris- 
tianity. 

Secondly, There are some who have had a taste of the 
true power, and have had living desires and breathings 
after it, and a sense of the preciousness and excellency of 
it ; who have also felt the quickening Spirit, and began 
therein ; and yet, have afterwards lost that sense, and cen- 
tered in a literal knowledge and wisdom about those very 
things, which they had once some living experience of. 
These are like salt, which hath lost its savour ; and it is 
hard for them ever to be seasoned again ; and from among 
these, do rise the greatest persecutors and bitterest perse- 
cution against the life. Truth, and power. 

Thirdly, There are some, who, though they never came 
to the distinct knowledge of the power, yet haye had a 
great sense of their want of it, and have abode in that 
sense ; and, in all the ways and forms of religion they have 
been or are in, still seek after it ; and reckon no form any- 
thing, but as the power in some measure appears in it ; and 



148 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

the cry of their souls is daily after it, and their waiting is 
fur it. These, wherever they are, are of the true seed ; 
these are the birth of the heavenly Spirit and wisdom ; 
these are sheep of the true Shepherd's fold, though not yet 
gathered home to the fold to which they properly belong. 
These are the broken, the bruised, the sick, the wounded, the 
captives, the distressed, the poor, the naked, &c., to whom 
the gospel of peace, the gathering, the salvation, and redemp- 
tion belongs. And, the bleating of these is known ; yea, 
their longing and cry after the redeeming and gathering 
power of the Shepherd, is felt ; however they may be, at 
present, prejudiced against that very dispensation of Truth, 
life, and power, whereby the Shepherd gathers. 

Fourthly, There are some, whom God hath brought to 
the distinct sense and knowledge of the power. There are 
some, whose minds God hath turned to the inward light 
and power. There are some, whom the Shepherd hath 
gathered home to the Father's house, where is bread 
enough, and to the true fold, where is rest and peace 
enough — some, who have seen an end of all perfection, in 
the legal comprehendings and creaturely strivings after life, 
righteousness, and holiness, and are come to the command- 
ment which is exceeding broad, and, wherein is life ever- 
lasting. Xow, these experience somewhat of the gospel 
dispensation, and know the difierence between being under 
the law and under grace ; and can tell, what the kingdom 
is, which Christ preached and bade men seek ; and what 
the gospel is, which the poor in spirit receive ; and what 
the healing is, which drops from under the wing of the 
Saviour and Kedeemer. And, they can tell what justifi- 
cation is, and what sanctification, regeneration, and re- 
demption is ; and can distinguish between truth as testified 
in the letter, and as it is in Jesus ; between the law of 
the letter, and the law of the Spirit, which is written in 
the new heart and mind, by the finger of God's pure and 



liii 



J 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 149 

living power. Now, the knowledge of these, the faith of 
these, the peace, the joy, the justification, and sanctifica- 
tion, and redemption of these, differs greatly from all the 
former ; from the two first sorts in nature and kind, from 
the latter in degree, clearness, and purity. For, though 
all the sheep of the true Shepherd have somewhat of the 
true knowledge, somewhat of the true faith, somewhat of 
the true justification, somewhat of the true sanctification, 
and may at times have some taste of true peace and joy, 
and have true breathings and supplications in their spirits 
towards their Father that begat them ; yet, they are not 
clear, they are not pure, they are not unmixed ; there is a 
great deal, \vhich is not true, which passeth for true with 
them ; because, they are not come to the anointing, to 
the eye-salve which opens the eye, nor to the Spirit of 
judgment and burning, which separates inwardly in the 
heart, understanding, mind, and judgment, between the 
precious and the vile. So that, when they speak of the 
heavenly things, they do but stutter and stammer ; and 
though truth can sometimes own their sense, yet, many 
times, not their words ; there is such a mixture of the dark, 
earthly comprehension in them, which they are not deliv- 
ered and redeemed from. But, it is otherwise with those, 
who are turned to the light and power of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and have known it, and been exercised, fanned, 
and purged by it : for, in them, the blind eye is opened, 
the deaf ear unstopped ; and, to them, the pure under- 
standing and language is given, whereby they know^ and 
understand, not only words concerning Him, but Him 
himself who is true, and are in him tliat is true, even in 
Him, who is the very God and life eternal. 

Yet, there are different states among those, who are 

thus effectually called and gathered home, according to 

their growth in the Truth, and faithfulness to it. For, if 

there be not a great care and watchfulness, there may be 

13^ 



150 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOJST. 

a neglecting to hear the voice of the Shepherd, and to walk 
with him : and then, such miss of the pastures of life, and 
of the pure rest, joy, and peace, which he administers to 
others ; and of the garment or covering of the Spirit, which 
they, who live and walk in the Spirit, (in everything giv- 
ing up to the Spirit, and denying all the lusts and fruits 
of the flesh,) daily find themselves covered with. Nor 
doth God so "dwell in them and walk in them," as he 
doth in those, that remain separate from all evil, (from 
which the Spirit of judgment and burning purifies and sepa- 
rates,) and touch no unclean thing. Yea, they who grieve 
Christ's Spirit, and do not heed his call and knocks, he 
doth not so sup with them, nor they with him ; nor do 
such partake so of the river of life and wine of the king- 
dom, as those whose ear is open to him, and who are always 
ready to obey and follow him " whithersoever he goeth.'' 



LP. 



19th of Fourth Month, 1673. 



LETTEE LVIIL 

On the Lord's Supper with Believers. 
To Widow Hemmings. 

My dear Friend, — Whom I truly love, and whose ' 
prosperity in the Truth I earnestly desire. Because I 
find thy mind much engaged about one thing, to wit, re- 
ceiving bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death, 
which I am tender to thee in ; yet withal, it is on my heart 
at this time to say somewhat to thee; perhaps the Lord 
may open thy mind, and let thee into some sense of the 
thing. 

There is a supper, or supping with Christ, beyond out- 



ilii 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEI^INGTON. 151 

ward bread and wine, which he promised to those that 
heard his voice, opened the door, and let him in. Kev. iii. 
20. Now, it is that supper, it is the desire of my heart, 
thou mayest be acquainted with and partake of. And as 
thou comest to be acquainted with it and partake of it, 
thou wilt call it the feast of fat things, and of v^^ines on 
the lees well refined. Christ said, Henceforth I will drinh 
no more of this fruit of the vine ; till I drink it new with you 
in my Father's kingdom. What wine, what fruit of the 
vine is it which Christ drinks new with his disciples in his 
Father's kingdom? Is it not that wine, which he and 
they drink now together, when he sups with them ? O ! 
the Lord give thee an understanding, that thou mayest 
come to the substance, feel substance, and inherit substance 
forever. 

*^Flee from idolatry, my dearly beloved," said the 
apostle, 1 Cor. x. 14. What idolatry did he mean ? "I 
speak as to wise men;" said he, "judge ye what I say. 
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com- 
munion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we 
break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? " 
About the outward cup and bread, might they not easily 
run into idolatry? but they that knew, discerned, and 
minded the body and blood indeed, they did not run into 
idolatry. " For we, being many, are one bread and one 
body ; for w6 are all partakers of that one bread." O 
deep, deep, indeed! The bread which comes down from 
heaven, that is the bread which gives life to the soul : and, 
unless we eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink liis 
blood, we have no life in us. And, if we eat his flesh and 
drink liis blood, we become one flesh with him, and bone 
of his bone ; yea, we become of the same bread with him, 
and so, of the one body of the living bread. 

My dear Friend, the Lord give thee an understanding, 
and open thy heart, and cause thee to grow into union 



152 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

and into sense of his Truth ; that by growing np in the 
Truth, thou rr.ayest come more and naore to understand it, 
and be acquainted with it. 

Thy unfeigned Friend in the Truth, v/hich is pure. 

LP. 

Eeadi^g Gaol, 
3d of Sixth Month, 1670. 



LETTER LIX. 

Respecting the Payment of Tithes. 
To JAMES EeLES. 

Feiexd, — God is my witness, to whom I must give an 
account of all my actions, that it is my desire to be found 
in all true loye, courtesy, and righteousness, in my deal- 
ings towards all men ; and that I would by no means 
deny any man his just due, which he can by any just law 
or right claim from me. 

Now, as touching tithes, the payment or refusing of 
them is to me a matter of conscience, weighty on my heart 
before the Lord; and I would do therein as he might 
justify, and not condemn me. I know, tithes were ordained 
by God, to be paid to the Leyitical priesthood, under the 
law : but, the same power that ordained them under the 
law, disannulled them under the gospel. Heb. vii. 12 & 
18. Here is God's power and authority for disannulling 
them. Now, that any man or men have true right, power, 
and authority to set up or require to be paid, under the 
gospel, what God's power hath disannulled, — indeed, I do 
not see ; nor can I be subject to any human authority or 
law in this thing, without sinning against God, and incur- 
ring his wrath upon my soul ; which I have formerly found 



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LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINaTO:N". 153 

very dreadful, and would not, for fear of sufferings in this 
world, expose myself to the bearing of. Besides, Christ 
saith, " He that denies me before men, him will I deny 
before my Father." He is the substance of all the figures 
under the law ; he hath put an end to them ; he is King, 
Priest, and Prophet in the church of God ; all power in 
heaven and earth is given to him, and he sent forth his 
ministers without tithes. Now, tithes were set up in the 
dark tinae of popery, and not by the gospel light ; and, 
they who know the gospel light, dare not be subject to 
that, which was set up in matters of religion by the dark 
power of Rome, in the time of darkness. 

I was willing to give thee this plain and naked account, 
that thou mayest see how weighty the thing is with me, 
and how dangerous it would be to me, to do what thou 
requirest of me ; for, in so doing, I should lose my peace 
with God, I should be unfaithful to the testimony he hath 
given me to bear, I should dishonour his name and Truth, 
and bring his sore wrath and displeasure upon my soul 
and conscience. Judge, thyself, in this matter; whether 
I had not better expose myself to any outward sufferings, 
though ever so great, (either from thee, or any thou shalt 
make use of,) than expose my soul to so great inward 
misery and sufferings, for disobedience to the Lord in this 
particular. Consider Ralph Trumper,* a just, tender, 
honest-hearted man, — how much he hath suffered in this 
respect, to keep his conscience clear in this thing ; who, I 
believe, would rather suffer all his former losses ten times 
over again, than suffer what he did, (to my knowledge,) 
for paying tithes, after he was convinced of the evil and 
unlawfulness of it. I do not contend with thee by the 
law of the land ; but, I must be subject to the law of God, 
who shows me from what root tithes came ; and that they 
arc not the maintenance of the ministry of Christ, or 

^ See Besse's Suflferiiigs of Friends, Vol. 1st, pages 78, 79. 



154 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

allowed by Christ ; but, the maintenance of the ministry 
Eome's power set up, both which ministry, and its main- 
tenance, is to be denied and witnessed against, by those, 
whom he calls forth to testify to his Truth in these things. 

So, at present, I say no more ; but remain thy Friend, 
ready to do thee any good, though I should suffer eyer so 
deeply from thee. I. P. 

2oLh of Fourth Month, 1677. 



LETTER LX. 

On Election, and on Falling away. Of our own Bighteonsneas 

and of Christ's in us. 

To EuTH Palmer. 

My dear Friend, — Whose love I am sensible of, and 
whom I entirely wish well unto, and desire for thee, that 
thou mayest purchase and possess the pearl of price ; and 
so know and enjoy Christ Jesus, the Lord, as that thou 
mayest witness him to be eternal lite to thy soul. 

I received a letter from thee, which occasions this my 
writing to thee. It is precious, indeed, to have the Spirit 
of God witness to us, that our sins are pardoned. And 
they who are truly pardoned, to whom the Spirit so wit- 
nesseth, receive the Spirit ; indeed, all that are Christians 
receive the Spirit; for, he that hath not the Spirit of 
Christ, is none of His. And where the Spirit is, there is 
He who hath power over sin, who delights to exercise his 
power in mortifying and subduing sin, and in reigning 
and triumphing over it. Xow, they that have received 
the Spirit, are to live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit ; 
and, doing so, they cannot fulfil the lusts of the flesh, nor 



i 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. ^ 165 

love the world, nor the things of the world, nor fashion 
themselves according to it, but are redeemed out of it, in 
heart, spirit, life, and conversation, up to God. O my 
Friend ! let no religion satisfy thee, but that v^hich brings 
thee hither, and which brings forth this fruit in thee. We 
must needs own Christ to be the spring, and that we can 
do nothing without him, but only by, and in, and through 
him ; because we daily experience it to be so. 

As touching election, we do believe it, according as the 
Lord hath taught us, and as the Scriptures express it : 
but, such an election, as shuts out any from the salvation 
God hath prepared for the sons of men, we cannot own; 
because the Scriptures expressly testify that God " would 
have all to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the 
Truth.'' Yea, also, we know it to be his nature. It is 
the nature of the destroyer to destroy, — he would have 
none saved ; but, it is the nature of God, the Saviour, to 
save, — he would have none perish. But, as there is a 
making the calling and the election sare, so, there is first 
a coming into the calling and into the election. Now, the 
election cannot perish, nay, the elect Seed cannot be de- 
ceived. And, as we are chosen in him, and come into 
him, (out of darkness in his marvellous light, out of 
death into his life,) so, we must abide in him : and the 
promise is to him, that continues unto the end. And 
Christ said to the church of Ephesus, " Remember from 
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works : 
or else," &c. : and mind, what a state they fell from, and 
how far they were fallen, when so severely threatened. 
It was not wholly ; it was but from the first love and first 
works ; and yet, if they repented not, how great was their 
danger. 

As for that place of Rom. xi., it is manifest, that there 
is an election, and that this election is not of works, but 
of grace. Yet there must be a hearing of the voice; 



156 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTOjST. 

" To-day/' said the apostle, " if ye will hear his voice ; " 
and so, there must be a coming to Christ, and an abiding 
in him, and a walking in the strait way ; for, it is the way 
God chooseth. God hath chosen Christ, and the soul in 
him ; and the message is, to invite to come to him, and 
abide in him to the end. And the condemnation is, upon 
rejecting him, and the salvation, to them that receive him, 
which is not of man's self neither, but, men are made 
willing so to do, in the day of God's power ; and the 
power is not far from, or wanting to any, in the way that 
the Lord hath appointed; though there are also the 
ahoundings of love, mercy, and power according to his 
pleasure. The falling away is, not because persons were 
not elected, but because they let in that, which is contrary 
to the election, and cleave to it. So, there is, a " heart of 
unbelief," in which men depart from the living God, and 
make shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience ; and 
the ground of their falling is, their hearkening, not to the 
Lord, but to the voice and temptations of the enemy. 
There are called, and faithful, and chosen. These are 
states, to be come into and abode in. Many may be 
called, who never come to be faithful, nor chosen. To 
witness the peculiar choice of God, this is precious : — and 
then, not to be content with a touch of the calling, or a 
touch of the election, but to " make " them " sure." There 
is no choosing, but in the seed. Make sure of that seed, 
and thou makest both thy " calling and election sure." 
For indeed, "many are called, but few chosen." And 
yet, when a man comes thus far, so as to know himself 
chosen, is he quite out of danger ? Did not Paul know 
his election sure? yet, was he not afterwards careful to 
keep that under and in subjection, which was to be kept 
under and in subjection ? ''lest," saith he, "when I have 
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 
Thou say est, Whom God once loves, he loves to the 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 157 

end. Did he not once love all men, even the whole 
world ? Did he not manifest it, in sending his Son for 
them ? And they that come into his Son, they come into 
his love; and they that come into his love, must continue 
in his love and in his goodness. For, it is not persons, 
(" God is no respecter of persons,'') but the seed, God 
loves. *^ In thy seed shall all the families of the earth bo 
blessed;'' and, in that seed, they are loved, and continu- 
ing there, they continue in the love. It is true, God's 
grace appears, and thereby many are gathered. And 
when any fall, the grace of God appears again, and 
thereby many are restored. But, if any be hardened by 
"the deceitfuhiess of sin," that they hearken not to the 
voice of grace, when it comes to restore, are they restored 
by it? And, God's compassions failed not to Israel of 
old, nor to Israel now ; yet, were none consumed then, 
who, though they came out of Egypt, yet rebelled, and 
lusted, and tempted Christ, &c., and so, were destroyed 
of the destroyer ! And so, do none make shipwreck of 
faith now, whereby the standing is? as the apostle ex 
presseth, E-om. xi. 19, 20, 21, 22. Read, and consider. 
And the apostle, in the sense of things, cries, " O the 
depth ! " &c. Love in severity, mercy in severity ! If it 
be stopped one way, it will break forth more abundantly 
in another way. And, '' who hath known the mind of the 
Lord," or given him counsel, which way he should man- 
age his love and mercy? as in ver. 33, 34, of that 11th 
chapter. Indeed, all the salvation is to be ascribed to 
God, and is ascribed to God by all that receive salvation 
from him ; but still, God saves in the way he has appoint- 
ed, (in coming into the way, in abiding in the way, in 
walking in the way,) — there alone is safety ; but, out of 
it, death and destruction forever. 

All our best righteousness is as filthy rags, it is true; 
but, the gift of God is not as filthy rags, the righteousness 
14 



158 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

of his Soil revealed in the heart, is not as filthy rags. 
Tlie pure offerings and incense, which are ofiered up to 
God in the times of the gospel, are not as filthy rags. See 
Mai. i. 11 ; and consider whether he that offers up to God 
the male, offers up a corrupt thing, a filthy rag, or no, ver. 
14. O what a state of blindness are many in, that they 
cannot distinguish between what is of themselves, and 
what is of God in them ; and so, avoid offering up the 
corrupt thing, and offer up that which is holy and pure, 
even the holy sacrifice, with the holy fire, upon the altar 
of God ! Consider 3d ch. 3d verse of ^Malachi ; and tell 
me, if thou knowest, what an offering in righteousness is, 
whether it be as filthy rags, or no. Consider that place, 
John, iii. 21. ^' He that doeth truth cometh to the light, 
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are 
wrought in God." And what are those deeds that are 
wrought in God? Is not God holy and j^ure? And is 
any thing wrought in him, but what is holy and pure? 
And mind that place, where the prophet speaks, " All our 
righteousnesses are as filthy rags," &c. Mind ver. 5, and 
ver. 6, of Isaiah Ixiv., and see if they be not two different 
states ? None of those, whose righteousness was as filthy 
rags, called upon the name of the Lord, ver. 7. ••Did not 
the prophet call on the name of the Lord ? The prophet 
there represents the state of backsliding Israel, that did 
not remember God in his ways, nor, through faith, work 
righteousness, as some others did, ver. 5 ; all their offer- 
ings, all their sacrifices out of the faith, was as filthy rags, 
as the cutting off' of a dog's neck, &c. ; but the offering of 
Abel, and the sacrifice of the righteous were not so, in 
any age or generation. Therefore, we should wait rightly 
to distinguish things, and not jumble the precious and the 
vile together, as if they were all one. 

As for method of speaking, I have none of my own, 
but wait for the method and words, which God's wisdom 



1 iiU; 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 159 

teacbetb. Indeed, wben I speak of tbe ligbt, and the 
life, and tbe power, I do mean Cbrist Jesus, wbo is the 
light, life, and power ; but, it is a great matter, to come 
to know him so revealed m tbe heart ; for, where he is so 
revealed, darkness and death, and the power of Satan, is 
scattered and put to flight by him. Yea, Satan falls like 
lightning before the j^ower of his kingdom, where it is 
revealed. 

This is a blessed experience ; and these know Christ 
indeed. The Lord grant that thou may est so do ! which 
is the hearty desire of thy soul's true and faithful Friend, 

I. P. 



LETTEE LXL 

To his brother Arthur, who became a Roman Catholic. 

Dear Brother, — I have been a traveller after the 
Lord from my childhood, and great misery have I under- 
gone for want of him. That which I wanted, was his 
Spirit, life, virtue, and redeeming power to be revealed in 
my own heart. O blessed be the Lord ! beyond my ex- 
pectation, he hath directed me, where to wait for this 
within, and hath revealed it in me ; and now I can say in 
truth of heart, and in the sense of that birth, which God 
hath begotten in me, '^ Lo ! this is my God, whom I so 
wanted and waited for ; " and, I find him stronger in my 
heart than the strong man, which possessed it before He 
cast him out from thence, and made a spoil of his goods. 
And now, dear Brother, how can I hold my peace, and 
not testify of the love, mercy, and good-will of tbe Lord 
towards me, and invite others to the redeeming power, 
of which the Lord in his goodness hath made me a par- 



160 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

taker? And now, Brother, a few words respecting thy 
return to what I sent thee ; not for contention's sake, (the 
Lord knows, my dwelling is in that life and peace which 
shuts them out,) but, in the tender love and care of my 
heart concerning the eternal welfare of thy soul, which 
I would not, by any means or device of the enemy, have 
eternally deceived. 

All sides m.ay agree in notions about the regenerating 
power ; but all do not receive the regenerating power, nor 
are truly regenerating in the sight of God ; nor come to 
witness the head of the serpent inwardly crushed, and his 
works destroyed, and kingdom laid waste inwardly by 
this power ; which must needs be, before a man be trans- 
lated out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom 
of the dear Son. There is a kingdom of darkness in- 
wardly, which the unbelieving and disobedient to God's 
Spirit and power, dwell in ; and there is a kingdom of 
light inwardly, wherein, the children of light dwell with 
God, and walk in the light as he is in the light. 

But, that the work of regeneration is only begun in this 
life, and not finished till the other life, iJiat is a great 
mistake. For, the Scriptures testify, that salvation is to 
be wrought out here, and not hereafter. Christ had all 
power in heaven and earth, and he sent forth his Spirit 
and power to work out the work here ; and his sanctifying 
Spirit and power is able to sanctify throughout, in soul, 
body, and spirit ; and the gifts of the ministry are for per- 
fecting the saints, till they all come in the unity of the 
faith, unto a perfect man, that they may be presented to 
God perfect in Christ Jesus. The holy leaven is put into 
the lump here, and it is able to leaven the lump here ; and 
holiness is not only to be begun, hut 2^ effected in the fear 
of God, as the apostle exhorts, who did not exhort to a 
needless, or impossible thing ; and the wdiole armour of 
God, is able to defend the whole man from all the assaults 



i 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 161 

of the wicked one ; for, greater is He, in the saints, that 
preserves from sin, than he that tempts to &in. 1 how 
precious it is to war with the enemy in this conquering 
faith, and to resist him therein ;• that he may still flee 
away, for fear of God's power and sword, which will pierce 
him, and can easily overcome him. 

There is a state where the spirit is willing, but the flesb 
weak : yet, it is not so, where the spirit is become strong 
in the Lord, and in the power of his might. There is a 
holy hill of God, a spiritual Zion, a mountain whereupon 
his house is built, which the wing of the Almighty over- 
shadows ; and his sheep that are gathered by the great 
Shepherd and Bishop of the soul, feed there, and none can 
make afraid. The flesh ivill be rebelling against the 
Spirit, until it be destroyed by the cross, of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. But, when a man is really crucified with 
Christ, and dead to sin, sin hath no more power over him ; 
for, Christ lives in him, and reigns in his heart over sin 
and the temptations thereof. When the God of peace 
treads Satan under the feet of the soul, that was once 
captived by him, there it is known,, whose the kingdom^ 
and the power and the victory, and the dominion is. 

And, this is true blessedness begun, carried on, and up- 
held, by the pure, sanctifying povv^er of the word of life in 
the heart ; and the birth which is born of God, knows it 
to be no delusion, but the truth as it is in Jesus. And 
such are obedient to the holy church of God, and to the 
holy ministry, which he hath brought out of the wilder- 
ness ; and know, of what nature the churches and ministry 
have been, which have appeared and been set up in the 
world, since the true church fled into, and was hid in the 
wilderness, and was fed there by the Lord God of life. 
The devil hath long transformed himself into the likeness 
of an angel of light, and cheated and beguiled souls ; while 
the false church hath reigned, antichrist sitting in the 
14* L 



162 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

temple, — the man-child having been caught up to God, 
and the true church in the wilderness ; and men have 
generally put darkness for light, and light for darkness. 
But, blessed be the LoM ! the true light which shone in 
the apostles' days, now shines again ; and discovers the 
mystery of iniquity, and the golden cup of abominations, 
wherewith the earth hath been made drunk ; and Satan 
falls down like lightning before the power of Him, on 
whom the true church leaned, when she came out of the 
wilderness,-^- and still leans, and will lean upon forever; 
and the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail against 
her. 

And blessed be the Lord ! who hath brought many 
wanderers and distressed ones to the sight of the true 
church, and to delightful obedience to her ; whose voice 
is not different to Christ's, but one with it ; and such are 
in fellowship with the Father and Son, and with the saints 
who dwell in the light. These are clothed with the 
Lamb's innocency and righteousness, and do not dv^ell in 
darkness, nor in sin ; having crucified the old man with 
his affections and lusts, and put off the body of the sins of 
the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, and put on the 
new man which is created, in Christ Jesus, in the right- 
eousness and holiness of Truth. They that are here, 
dwell not in fancies, nor feed on fancies, but on eternal 
life, in the pure pastures of life, where the Shepherd of 
the inw^ard and spiritual Israel, feeds his holy flock day 
by day. 

As for the Romish church, or any other church, built 
up in the apostacy from the spirit and life of the apostles ; 
the Lord hath given me to see through them, to that which 
was before them, and will be after them. And, O dear 
Brother! if thou couldst but rightly wait for and meet 
with the holy, regenerating, purifying power, which in 
tender love I testified to thee of; it would lead thee to 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 163 

that which is the true church indeed, which hath been 
persecuted by the dragon and false church, and the blood 
of her seed made drunk by the bloody dragonish church, 
for many ages. 

The Lord hath made me thy Brother in the line of 
nature ; O that thou wert my Brother in that Truth, which 
lives and abides forever ! O that thou knew the church, 
of the first-born, which are written in heaven, the Jerusa- 
lem which is above, which is free, which is the mother of 
all who are born of the regenerating virtue and power ! 

LP. 

20th of Seventh Month, 1676.' 



LETTEE LXIL 

Respecting his Brother, a Roman Catholic. 
To Joseph Wright. 

I ENTREAT thy Son to acquaint my Brother Arthur, 
that I took very kindly, and was very glad of his affection- 
ate expressions towards me ; having been somewhat jeal- 
ous, that though my religion had enlarged my love towards 
him, yet, his religion might have diminished his to me. I 
bless the Lord on his behalf that he enjoys his health so 
well : and for myself, though I have been exceedingly 
weakly formerly, yet, the inward life and comfort, which 
the Lord daily pleaseth to administer to me, increaseth 
the health and strength of my natural man, beyond my 
expectation ; blessed be my tender and merciful Father, 
who hath visited one so distressed, miserable, and helpless 
as I was, for so many years ! 

And, whereas he saith, he is like me in speech, but most 
unlike me in opinion ; I pray, tell him from me, that my 



164 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

religion doth not lie in opinion, but in that which puts 
an end to opinion. I ^yas weary and sick at heart of 
opinions; and, had not the Lord brought that to my hand 
which my soul wanted, I had never meddled with reliction 
more. But, as I felt that in my heart, which was evil and 
not of God, so the Lord God of my life, pointed me to 
that of him in my heart, which was of another nature, 
teaching me to wait for and know his appearance there ; 
in subjection whereto, I experience him stronger than the 
strong man, that was there before ; and by his power, he 
hath separated me from that within, which separated me 
from him before ; and, thus being separated, truly, I feel 
union with him, and his blessed presence every day, — 
which, what it is unto me, my tongue cannot utter. 

I could be glad, if the Lord saw good, that I might see 
my Brother before I die ; and, if I did see him, I should 
not be quarrelling with him about his religion, but embrace 
him in brotherly love, and in the fear of the Lord. As 
for his being a Papist, or an arch-Papist, that doth not 
damp my tender affection to him. If he be a Papist, I 
had rather have him a serious than a loose Papist. If he 
hath met with any thing of that, which brings forth an 
holy conversation in him, he hath so far met with some- 
ivhat of my religion, which teacheth to order the conver- 
sation aright, in the light, and by the Sj)irit and power of 
the Lord Jesus. My religion is not a new thing, though 
newly revealed more fully than in many foregoing ages ; 
but consists in that, which was long before Popery was, 
and will be when Popery shall be no more. And, he that 
would rightly know the true church, must know the living 
stones whereof the true church is built, against which the 
gates of hell cannot possibly prevail. O the daily joy of 
my heart, in feeling my living membership in this church ! 
where the true "gold," the "white raiment," the pure 
" eye-salve " (with which the eye, being anointed, sees 



iiilL 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 165 

aright) is received and enjoyed inwardly, by such as the 
world knows not, but despiseth : blessed be the name of 
the Lord! 

I desire my sincere, entire affection, as in God's sight, 
may be remembered to my dear Brother. I. P. 



LETTER LXIIL 

On Baptism by Water. 
To William Eolls. 



Friend, — David saw through sacrifices and burnt 
offerings in his time ; and the spiritual eye sees through 
all shadows to the substance, which have no place in the 
brightness of the day of God : and outward washing is no 
more than outward circumcision, (no more of a gospel 
nature,) nor can avail any more, but is of the nature of 
the things, that were to be shaken and pass away ; that 
the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
things which cannot be shaken, might remain. 

I could say very much to every passage of thy letter ; 
but to what purpose would it be ? The Lord give thee a 
sense, where the true understanding is given, and teach 
thee aright to wait for it ; that thou mayest receive it from 
him, and thereby discern the nature of that wisdom, from 
which God hath hid the mystery in all ages and genera- 
tions, and from which he hides it still ; that so thou mayest 
experimentally know, what it is to become a fool in thy- 
self for Christ's sake, that thou mayest be wise in liim ; 
concerning which, it is easy to have many notions in the 
mind, but, hard to come to the true experience of 

These are the breathings of my heart for thee, in the 



166 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

flo wings of my love ; who desire, that thou may est not 
seek after the know^ledge of the Scriptures in that, which 
cannot understand them ; but, mayest meet wdth the right 
ke}^and the right understanding, wherein thy soul will be 
safe and happy : which is my heart's desire for thee, who 
am a real Friend, and well-wisher to thy soul in the Lord. 

LP. 



LETTER LXIV. 

On Unreserved Obedience. 
To Bridget Atley. 



Dear Friend, — I know thy soul desires to live; and 
my soul desireth, that thou mightst live. O ! why art 
thou so backward to hearken, to the voice which is nigh 
thee, wherein is life ? why dost thou reason ? why dost 
thou consult? why dost thou expect? why dost thou 
hope? why dost thou believe against thy own soul? 

The snares of the subtle one will entangle forever, un- 
less thou wait for, hearken to, and obey the voice of the 
living God, who leads the single-hearted and obedient out 
of them. Is there any way of life but one? Is not the 
Lord leading his children in that way ? Must not all that 
come after, follow in the footsteps of those that go before ? 
Is there any Saviour, but the seed of life and the Father 
of it ? Is it not the same in thee as in others ? Hath it 
not the same voice? O that thou hadst the same ear and 
the same heart, that thou mightst hear, receive, and live! 
They wait aright ; dost thou wait so ? they hope aright ; 
dost thou hope so ? If not, what will thy waiting and 
expecting come to? In that, which hath sometimes in- 
clined thy heart, there is Truth, there were the beginnings 



llilli. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 167 

of salvation ; but in that, which draws thee out, to expect 
some great matters, and dries up thy present sense, and 
hinders thy present subjection, therein is deceit and the 
destruction of thy souL Therefore, if thou desire and 
love the salvation thereof, O hasten, hasten out of it I wait 
for the reproofs of wisdom ; and what it manifests to be 
of the earthly and worldly nature in thee, (the words, 
v\'ays, thoughts, customs thereof,) hasten out of, O turn 
thy back upon the world with speed, and turn thy face 
towards the heavenly wisdom and light eternal ! which 
will be springing up in thee, if thou turn thy back upon 
the world, and wait for it. 

And, do not look for such great matters to begin with ; 
but, be content to be a child, and let the Father propor- 
tion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exer- 
cises, what straits, what fears, what troubles, he sees fit for 
thee ; and do thou bow before him continually, in humility 
of heart, who hath the disposal of thee, whether to life or 
death forever. Ah ! that wisdom, which would be choos- 
ing, must be confounded, and the low humble thing raised, 
which submits, and cries to the Father in every condition. 
And, in waiting to feel this^ and, in joining to this, thou 
mayest meet with life ; but death, destruction, and separa- 
tion from God, is the portion of the other forever ! O ! 
that thou mayest be separated from it, and joined to the 
seed and birth of God ; that, in it, thy soul may spring up 
to know, serve, and worship the Lord, and to wait daily 
to be formed by him, until thou become perfectly like 
him. But, thou must join in with the beginnings of life, 
and be exercised with the day of small things, before thou 
meet with the great things, wherein is the clearness and 
satisfaction of the soul. The rest is at noon-day ; but, the 
travels begin at the breakings of day, wherein are but 
glimmerings, or little light, wherein the discovery of good 
and evil are not so manifest and certain ; yet there must 



168 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

the traveller begin and travel ; and in his faithful travels, 
(iu much fear and trembliug, lest he should err,) the light 
will break in upon him more and more. 

This have I written in tenderness to thee, that thou 
mightst not miss of the path of the living, which is 
appointed of the Father to lead, and alone can lead the 
soul to life. O! that thou mightst be enlightened and 
quickened by the Lord to walk therein, and mightst be 
thankful tor, and content with, what he gives thee, and 
walk therein, from the evil to the good, from the earthly 
to the heavenly naflire daily, and mightst not despise the 
cross or the shame of the seed. For, I know there is a 
wisdom in thee, which will despise and turn from it, until 
the Lord batter and crucify it : and, I can hardly put up 
a more proper request for thee, than, that the Lord would 
draw out his sword against it, and deeply perplex and 
confound it in thee, L P. 

16^5. 



LETTEK LXY. 



To THE POOE AMOXG FrIEXDS. WHO AEE EELIETED BY THE 
CHAEITY A2s'D BOWELS OF LOVE. WHICH GOD OPEL'S IX 
OTHEE FeIEXDS TOWAEPS THEM. 

O Feiexds, — Ye ought deeply and often to consider 
of God's visiting you with his precious Truth, whereto 
being faithful, ye are sure to be happy forever ; how hard 
soever it should go with you, and how strait soever your 
condition should be, in reference to the things of this 
world. 

But, ye have not only this assurance and benefit by the 
Truth, but ye are also come to partake of a better provi- 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PE^^INGTON. 169 

sion, as to your necessities outwardly, than other poor meet 
with. For, God himself takes care of you, in drawing the 
hearts of his children to consider of your wants, and make 
supply unto you ; so that, many of you are so provided 
for, as ye had never like to have been while in this world, 
had it not been for the interest, God gives you in the 
hearts of others, through and because of his Truth. 
Surely, this should not be forgotten by you, but daily 
acknowledged to the Lord, in the use and enjoyment of 
those things, which ye ought to receive as from his hand, 
through those who minister to you iirhis name, and for 
his sake. 

And, take heed of murmuring, if the supply answer not 
any of your expectations ; for, if we wait upon the Lord, 
to be ordered and guided by him in this matter, and 
answerably witness his presence with us, and holy wisdom 
ordering us in these affairs ; your murmurings are not 
against us, but against the Lord. And, if ye watch 
narrowly over yourselves, ye will find, it is the unsubdued 
part, which is apt to be repining and m.urmuring ; but, 
that which is of the Lord and eyes him, is that which is 
sensible of his goodness, and thankful to him for it. But, 
if there be judged to be any neglect towards any, or any 
just cause of complaint; let it, in tenderness, meekness, 
and the fear of the Lord, be laid before us ; and we will 
wait upon him to give it a due and full consideration, and 
do therein as the Lord shall open and guide our hearts. 
For, great exercises of spirit do we meet with in these 
affairs, and great are our cries of spirit to the Lord, to 
guide and order us according to his will and holy counsel 
therein. 

And, dear Friends, wait to feel that which stays your 

minds on the Lord, and keeps your eye towards him ; and 

take heed of judging us in things, wherein we truly desire 

to act singly towards the Lord, and of which we must 

15 



170 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

give an account to him ; and, if ye in anything judge us, 
wherein our God justifies us, certainly the Lord will there- 
in condemn you. Therefore, be wary and watchful in 
this matter. I. P, 



LETTER LXVL 

Afflictions «aay work out a Weight of Glory. 
To MY DEAR SUFFEEING FrIENDS IN SCOTLAND. 

Dear Friends and Brethren, — Who have partaken 
of the tender mercies and blessed visitation of the Lord. 

O ! blessed be the Lord, who pitied and helped us in 
our low estate, and whose tender love and mercy hath 
followed us, from his first visiting us to this present day ! 
And indeed, the Lord is with us, (what can we desire 
more ?) preparing us for himself, preserving us in the life 
of his blessed Truth, building us up more and more, and 
causing his Spirit of glory and living power to rest upon 
us, and the virtue thereof to spring up in us day by-day. 

O ! the beauty and glory of the day of our God increas- 
eth upon his heritage, blessed be the name of the Lord ! 
And, to what tend all the workings of the contrary spirit 
and power, but, to eat out its own interest and kingdom, 
through the Lord's blessed ordering of things ; so that, 
all things work together for good, and for the advancing 
of Truth, and the growth of it in the hearts of God's 
heritage. 

So, my dear Friends, none look out, either at outward 
or inward sufferings ; but to the Lord only, whose life. 
Spirit, and power is above them, and bears up all over 
them, who are in spirit joined to him, faithfully waiting 



IL 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 171 

upon him ; which God daily teaches and enables his to 
do. Thus, my dear Friends, feel the Lord's presence and 
power among you, who is always near his, but especially 
in the time of their straits, trials, and sufferings ; and wait 
to feel the life springing, and doing its proper work in 
each of you day by day; working out what is to be 
wrought out in any, and working more and more into the 
glory of the heavenly im.age ; that, through the sufferings, 
ye may come into the glory, and be crowned with the 
glory, virtue, holiness, righteousness, and dominion of 
life over all ; and thus the Son may sit upon his throne 
in you, and wield his holy and righteous sceptre, and give 
you dominion in and with him over all that would veil 
life, or keep it under, in any of you. So, my dear Friends, 
be strong in the Lord, with the strength of the Lord, with 
which he is clothing those, whom he hath emptied and 
made weak ; for the trials, temptations, and afflictions, 
prepare for, and (as I may say) lead into the possession 
of the desired inheritance ; where, all that the soul hath 
breathed and waited for, is bestowed upon it, by the 
bountiful hand of the Father of mercies, who keeps cove- 
nant and mercy forever, and renews covenant and mercy 
day by day. 

So, the tender God of my life, and Father of the bless- 
ings and mercies of my once greatly distressed and miser- 
able soul, instruct you, preserve you, watch over you ; 
exercise your spirits most advantageously, daily open you 
to himself; keep you empty and naked before him of all 
your own clothing and righteousness, and fill you with 
that, which flows from the pure living fountain ; to the 
unspeakable joy of your hearts, and the glory of his own 
name over all forever ! 

Be of good faith, my dear Friends, look not out at any 
thing ; fear none of those things ye may be exposed to 
suffer, either outwardly or inwardly; but trust the Lord 



172 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

over all, and your life will spring, and grow, and refresh 
you, and the love and power will purge out, and keep out, 
what would hinder its growth ; and ye will learn obedi- 
ence and faithfulness daily more and more, even by your 
exercises and sufferings ; yea, the Lord will teach you the 
very mystery of faith and obedience ; (oh blessed lesson !) 
and ye shall not be disappointed of your hope or crown, 
by any thing the enemy can plot or bring about against 
you, but have the weight of glory increased and enlarged 
by his temptations, and your many sufferings ; the wisdom, 
power, love, and goodness of the Lord, ordering every thing 
for you, and ordering your hearts in every thing, — you 
having given up to him, and keeping them continually 
given up to him, in the holy seed of Truth, in which he 
hath in some measure already joined, and is daily more 
and more joining you to himself. 

This is the salutation and tender visit of the love of 
your brother in the Truth ; whose breathings are to God 
for you, and his praises unto Him, through the sense of his 
being with you, and daily showing mercy to you, uphold- 
ing and preserving you in the midst of your sore trials and 
afflictions. I. P. 

London, 
5th of Fifth Mondi, 1676. 



LETTER LXVIL 

Against Earthly Eeasonings and Expectations. 
To Sarah Bond. 

Dear Sarah, — I have had many thoughts of thee in 
this my imprisonment ; wherein, I have seen in spirit thy 
error and miscarriage, and a hope and expectation in thy 
heart, which will deceive thee. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOX. 173 

O how much precious time hast thou lost! wherein 
thou mightst have been travelling far on thy journey, 
while thou art disputing in thy mind, and wandering in 
the deceitful reasonings of thy heart. And indeed, it must 
not be, it must not be as thou imaginest ; but, thou must 
begin low, and be glad of a little light to travel with out 
of the earthly nature, and be faithful thereunto ; and in 
faithfulness expect additions of light, and so much power 
as may help thee to rub on. And, though thou may be 
long low, and weak, and little, and ready to perish ; ^et, 
in the humble and self-denying state, the Father will help 
thee, and cause his life to shoot up in thee, in the shooting 
up whereof, will be thy redemption. 

But, O hasten ! O hasten out of the earthly nature, 
whilst thou hast time, or any visitations from the Spirit of 
the Lord ! and do not in thy wisdom limit him, but accept 
what at present comes from him ; for the flood is break- 
ing out, and will swallow up and drown all, that are not 
found in the ark. Oh ! therefore, enter, enter apace ; 
mind that which checks in thy heart; mind also that 
which reasons against those checks, to hold thee still 
in captivity, and to keep thee from travelling out of the 
earthly nature, spirit, wisdom, and practices ; and come 
out of the spirit and way of this world, that thou mayest 
live, and not die. For, none shall live, but those that 
walk in the way of life, and leave the paths and course of 
the dead, in which thou art yet entangled. O ! that thou 
mightst be loosed, and travel out thence, with a little 
light and a little help ; and not limit the Holy One of 
Israel in thy desires or expectations, but thankfully receive 
the smallest visitation that comes from him to thy soul ; 
for, there is life and peace in it, and death and perplexity 
in turning from it. And, this will not be thy comfort or 
satisfaction hereafter, to have had a day of visitation and 
mercy from on high ; but to have received the visitation, 
15^ 



174 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

and to have been turned in it, from the darkness of the 
earthly mind and nature, into the light of the living and 
redeemed souls — this will be comfortable, indeed ! 

And this is my tender counsel to thee: wait for, and 
gaspingly receive the checks of the Most High, and take 
heed of reasoning against them ; but, as that (though in 
a low, and mean, and despicable way to thy wisdom) 
draws and leads thee out of any earthly thought, word, cus- 
tom, or practice, follow diligently ; not reasoning against 
it, ^^ut, waiting to have thy reasonings subdued to the 
smallest motions, and lowest guidance of life in thee. For, 
I know that life is near thee, even the life that would effec- 
tually redeem thee ; but, it is bowed down and held cap- 
tive under the dominion of the earthly wisdom ; and so, 
thy redemption (which is to be wrought out by it) sticks, 
and wnll stick, until thy heart be persuaded to join to it 
and become subject, without reasoning, without consulting, 
without disputing. For, I certainly know, the light mani- 
fests in thee ; but, the darkness puts off the present mani- 
festation of the light, and expects another ; and, this is in 
the will of the flesh, which the Father wdll not answer ; and, 
in this will and expectation, thou wilt perish ; but, thy help, 
life, and salvation, is, in being subject to the present man- 
ifestation of light, parting with, and departing from, what 
thou already knowest to be of the earth, and not of God. 
And, in thus doing, more will be made manifest in the 
Lord's season, and power given to become a chiM, after 
some belief in the Father, and some entrance into the 
child-like nature ; but, the will and expectation of the 
flesh in thee, shall never be answered : — it hath been long 
written in my heart concerning thee, but I dare never 
utter it to thee — O that it may be now uttered, to the 
melting and advantage of thy heart ! for, indeed, I love 
thee, and have travailed for thee, and desire the salvation 
of thy soul, as of my own. O that thou may est be led 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON, 175 

out of that wisdom which destroys, into that which saves ! 
and mayest there, in humility of heart, receive instruction 
daily, according to thy need. But, indeed, of a truth, 
thou must come into and come under that, which crucifies 
thy nature and wisdom ; and there, (in the seasons of God's 
wisdom, who answers the desires of his own Spirit in the 
heart, but regards not the flesh,) mayest thou meet with 
life and power, but no where else. 

I am thy Friend, and a dear lover of that in thee, 
which desires the Lord ; and, O that that might come up 
in thee, and be severed from the earth, that thy soul may 
live! LP. 



LETTER LXVIIL 

An Invitation to Heavenly Substance. 

Friend, — The vessel, or created nature, poisoned by 
sin and death, nothing can redeem, but the life and power 
of God revealed in the vessel. This life, this peace, this 
power, this righteousness, this salvation, is the Lord Jesus 
Christ. And he that feels any thing of this, feels some- 
what of Christ; and being joined to, and partaking of it, 
partakes somewhat of his redemption ; for, it is not by an 
outward knowledge, but, by an inward virtue and spirit- 
ual life, received from Christ, and held in Christ, that 
those who are saved, are saved. This is the thing of value 
with me, for which I have been made willing to part 
with all, and into this purchased possession am I daily 
travelling; and in my travels, the Father of life and 
tender mercy pleaseth to help me. 

Now, to have thee gathered into this light, this life, this 
power, which is of Christ, and in which he is, and appears. 



176 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

is the desire of my soul, in uprightness of heart before 
the Lord, for thee : and, if he please, I am willing to be 
instrumental in his hand, towards the bringing forth of 
this in thee. It is not my desire, to bring forth new 
notions in thee ; but rather, that thou mightst wait on 
the Lord, for him to bring up his living, powerful Truth 
in thee, wherein the knowledge of the new and living 
way, is alone revealed. 

I am a worm, I am poor, I am nothing ; less than noth- 
ing, as in myself; weaker than I can express, or thou 
imagine ; yet, in the midst of all this, the life, power, 
righteousness, and presence of Christ, is my refreshment, 
peace, joy, and crown : and that, to which I invite thee, is 
substance, everlasting substance, Vv^hich thou shalt know 
and acknowledge in spirit to be so, as that is created and 
raised in thee, which can see and acknowledge it in Truth. 
O! wait on the Lord, fear before him, pray for his fear 
in the upright breathings, (which are not of thy spirit's 
forming, but of his pure begetting*;) that thou mayest be 
led by him, out of that wisdom which entangles, into that 
innocency, simplicity, and precious childishness, in which 
the Father appears to the soul, to break the bonds and 
snares of iniquity ; for, hereby, the evil spirit not only 
involveth in iniquity, but also begets a belief, as if there 
could be no perfect redemption therefrom, till the time 
of redemption be over. 

Thy truly loving Friend, desiring the right guidance 
and happiness of thy soul, by the Lord Jesus Christ, the 
alone skilful Shepherd and Guide, even as of my own 
soul. I. p. 

Aylesbuky Pkison, ' 
20th of Tenth Month, 1666. 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 177 



LETTER LXIX. 

Exhortation to Walk in the Truth. 
For my dear Friends in the Truth at Lewes. 

The God of truth plants his Truth in the hearts of 
people, that it might grow there, and bring forth fruit to 
him. O my dear Friends ! feel it grow in every one of 
your hearts, and bringing forth the proper fruits of its 
growth to the Lord. 

Mind what ariseth from the Truth, what Truth brings 
forth, and wait for and receive your nourishment from the 
Lord, that it may be brought forth in you. And, that 
which the Lord hath made barren (in you, who have 
experienced his righteous judgments,) let it be kept so, 
by the same power which made it barren, that no more 
fruit may be brought forth to sin and unrighteousness, by 
any of you. Then shall ye live the life of Truth, and no 
life but the life of Truth, and dwell and walk in the 
Truth, than which, there is no greater joy, delight, or 
peace to be desired or enjoyed. 

my dear Friends ! know, and every day experience 
Enoch's life, — a being translated out of the kingdom of 
darkness, into the kingdom of the dear Son, and of walk- 
ing with the Son in his kingdom ; then, ye will walk with 
the Father also, and know the heavenly paths of life, joy, 
righteousness, and peace in the pure light of life, which 
is no less than a paradise to the renewed soul. 

1 would fain have seen you together, had the Lord 
made way ; but, let me feel you in the hidden life, and 
meet you at my Father's throne, where, let us beg of our 
God, what our souls and His whole flock stand in need of, 

M 



178 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

praying for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, unto 
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hears 
our prayers; that we may daily see and feel the going 
on of the work of our God, in our hearts and in the 
kingdoms of the world, (which must become the Lord's 
and his Christ's,) and may bless and magnify his name, 
who hath power over all, and orders all for good to his 
chosen heritage. 

This is the salutation of my love to you, which lay so 
upon me, that I could not pass it by, who am your Friend, 
in the everlasting unchangeable Truth of our blessed God 
and Saviour. I. P. 



LETTEE LXX. 

Consolation for a Mother on the death of her Child. 

To Sarah Elgar. 

The child, which the Lord hath taken from thee, was 
his own. He hath done thee no wrong, in calling it from 
thee. Take heed of murmuring, take heed of discontent, 
take heed of any grief, but what Truth allows thee. 
Thou hast yet one child left. The Lord may call for that 
too, if he please ; or he may continue and bless it to thee. 
O mind a right frame of spirit towards the Lord, in this I 
thy great affliction ! If thou mind God's Truth in thy 
heart, and wait to feel the seasoning thereof, that will 
bring thee into, and preserve thee in a right frame of 
spirit. The Lord will not condemn thy love and tender- 
ness to thy child, or thy tender remembrance of him ; but 
still, in it, be subject to the Lord, and let his will and dis- 
posal be bowed unto by thee, and not the will of thy 
nature set above it. Eetire out of the natural, into the 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 179 

spiritual, where thou may est feel the Lord thy portion ; so 
that now, in the needful time, thou mayest day by day re- 
ceive and enjoy satisfaction therein. O wait to feel the 
Lord, making thy heart what he would have it to be, in 
this thy deep and sore affliction ! I. P. 

NUNXINGTON, 

Sixth Month, 1679. 

Now let the world see, how thou prizest Truth, and 
what Truth can do for thee. Feed on it ; do not feed on 
thy affliction ; and the life of Truth will arise in thee, and 
raise thee up over it, to the honour of the name of the 
Lord, and to the comfort of thy own soul. 



LETTEE LXXL 

Advice respecting Church Discipline. 

To THE Women's Meeting of Friends in the Truth, 
AT John Mannock's. 

Dear Friends, — Dearly beloved and honoured in 
the Lord, because of his honourable presence and power, 
which is so preciously manifested and found to be among 
you in your meetings. 

Blessed be the Lord, who hath thus gathered you ! and 
given you hearts to meet together, to feel his precious pres- 
ence and power, and wait to do his will therein, as he shall 
please to call, and make your way clear thereto. And, 
blessed be the Lord ! who doth encourage and reward you 
daily, and make your meetings pleasant and advantageous 
to your own souls, and towards the seasoning and holy 
watching over the several respective places, where your 
lot is fallen. 



180 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

Oh I what could the Lord do more for his people, than 
to turn them to that pure seed of life, which will make 
them all alive, and keep them all in life and purity ; and 
then, to make use of every living member in the living 
body, as his Spirit shall please to breathe upon it, and his 
power actuate it I And indeed, there is need of all the 
life and power to the body, which the Lord sees good to 
bestow on any member of it ; every member of the body 
having life given it, not only for itself, but likewise for 
the use and service of the body. Only, dear Friends, here 
is to be the great care, that every member keep within the 
limits of life, wherein its capacity and ability for service 
lies, and, out of which, it can do no real service for Grod, 
or to the body. O ! therefore, eye life, eye the power, eye 
the presence of the Lord with your spirits ! that he may- 
go along with you, and guide you in every thought ye 
think, in every word ye speak, in reference to his work 
and service. 

And mind, Friends, what is now upon me to you : it is 
one thing, to sit waiting to feel the power, and to keep 
within the limits of the power, thus far ; and another, yea, 
and harder, to feel and keep within the sense and limits 
of the power, when ye come to act. Then, your reason- 
ings, your wisdom, your apprehensions, have more advan- 
tage to get up in you, and to put themselves forth. O I 
therefore, watch narrowly, and diligently against the for- 
ward part ; and keep back to the life, which, though it 
rise more slowly, yet acts more surely and safely for God. 

O wait and watch, to feel your Keeper keeping you 
withiu the holy bounds and limits, within the pure fear, 
within the lining sense, while ye are acting for your God ! 
that ye may only be his instruments, and feel him acting 
in you. Therefore, every one wait to feel the Judge risen 
and up, and the judgment set, in your own hearts; that, 
what ariseth in you, may be judged and nothing may pass 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIN^GTON. 181 

from you publicly, but what hath first passed the pure 
judgment in your own breasts. And, let the holy rule of 
the blessed apostle James, be always upon your spirits, 
*' Let every one be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to 
wrath/' O let not a talkativeness have place in any of 
you ! but, abide in such gravity, modesty, and weightiness 
of spirit, as becomes the judgment-seat of the Spirit and 
power of the Lord. Ye can never w^ait too much for the 
power, nor can ye ever act too much in the power ; but, ye 
may easily act too much without it. 

And as for this troublesome, contentious business, (if 
the Lord should yet order it to be brought before you,) 
the Lord teach you to consider of, and manage it in a wise, 
tender, and healing spirit. Ye must distinguish in judg- 
ment, if ye judge aright, between enemies and erring 
friends. And, take heed of the quickness and strength of 
reason, or of the natural part, which avails little : but, 
wait for the evidence and demonstration of God's Spirit, 
which reaches to the witness and doth the work. Are 
they in a snare ? are they overtaken in a fault ? yea, are 
they in measure blinded and hardened, so that they can 
neither see nor feel, as to this particular ? Ketire, sit still 
awhile, and travail for them. Feel how life will arise in 
any of you, and how mercy will reach towards them ; and 
how living words, from the tender sense, may be reached 
forth to their hearts, deeply, by the hand of the Lord, for 
their good. And, if ye find them, at length, bowing to 
the Lord, O let tender compassion help them forwards ! 
that what hath been so troublesome and groundedly dis- 
satisfactory in the progress, may, at length, have a sweet 
issue for their good, and our joy and rejoicing in the 
Lord. 

So, my dear Friends, the Lord be with you, and guide 
you in this, and in all that he shall further call you to ; 
and multiply liis presence, power, and blessings upon you, 
16 



182 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEJSTINGTON. 

and make your meetings as serviceable to the honour of 
his name, as he himself would have them, and as you your- 
selves can desire them to be. 

Your Friend and brother in the tender Truth, and in 
the pure love and precious life. I. P. 

19th of Fifth Month, 1678. 



LETTEK LXXIL 



On Prayer in Families, &c. Also on the state of Professors of 

the day. 

« 

Because my not praying in my family, according to 
the custom of professors, seemed to be such a great stum- 
bling-block to thee, it sprang up in my heart to render 
thee this account thereof. 

I did formerly apply myself to pray to the Lord, morn- 
ing and evening, (besides other times,) believing in my 
heart, that it was the will of the Lord I should so do. And 
this was my condition then : — sometimes I felt the living 
spring open, and the true child breathe towards the Father; 
at other times, I felt adeadness, a dryness, a barrenness, 
and only a speaking and striving of the natural part, 
which I, even then, felt was not acceptable to the Lord, 
nor did profit my soul ; but, apprehending it to be a duty, 
I durst not but apply myself thereto. 

Since that time, — since the Lord hath again been pleased 
to raise up what he had formerly begotten in me, and began 
to feed it, by the pure giving forth of that breath of life 
which begat it, (which is the bread that comes down from 
heaven daily to it, as the Lord pleaseth freely to dispense 
it,) — the Lord hath shown me, that prayer is his gift to 
the child which he begets ; and that it stands not in the 
will, or time, or understanding, or affectionate part of the 



LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 183 

creature, but in his own begetting, which he first breathes 
upon, and then it breathes again towards him ; — and that 
he worketh this at his own pleasure, and no time can be 
set him when he shall breathe, or when he shall not 
breathe ; and that when he breathes, then is the time of 
prayer, then is the time of moving towards him, and fol- 
lowing him who draws. So that, all my times, and all my 
duties, and all my graces, and all my hopes, and all my 
refreshments, and all my ordinances, are in his hand, who 
is the spring of my life, and conveys, preserves, and in- 
creases life of his own good pleasure. 

I freely confess, all my religion stands in waiting on 
the Lord, for the riches of his Spirit, and in returning 
back to the Lord, (by his own Spirit, and in the virtue of 
his own life,) that which he pleaseth to bestow on me. 
And, I have no faith, no love, no hope, no peace, no joy, 
no ability to anything, no refreshment in anything, but as 
I find his living breath beginning, his living breath con- 
tinuing, his living breath answering, and performing what 
it calls for. So that, I am become exceeding poor and 
miserable, save in what the Lord pleaseth to be to me by 
his own free grace, and for his own name's sake, and in 
rich mercy. And, if I have tasted anything of the Lord's 
goodness sweeter than ordinary, my heart is willing, so far 
as the Lord pleaseth, faithfully to point any others to the 
same spring ; and not discourage or witness against the 
least simplicity, and true desire after God, in them. But, 
where they have lost the true living child, and another 
thing is got up in its stead, (which, though it may bear its 
image to the eye of flesh, yet is not the same thing in the 
sight of God ;) and, where this nourisheth itself by pray- 
ing, reading, meditating, or any other such like thing, 
feeding the carnal part with such a kind of knowledge 
from Scriptures, as the natural understanding may gather 
and grow rich by ; this, in love and faithfulness to the 



184 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

Lord and to souls, I cannot but testify against, wherever 
I find it, as the Lord draweth forth my spirit to bear its 
testimony. 

And this I know, from the Lord, to be the general state 
of professors at this day. The Spirit of the Lord is de- 
parted from them, and they joined to another spirit, as 
deeply and as generally as ever the Jews were ; and that 
their prayers and reading of the Scriptures, and preach- 
ing, and duties, and ordinances, are, as loathsome to the 
soul of the Lord, as ever the Jews' incense and sacrifices 
were. And this is the word of the Lord concerning them. 
Ye must come out of your knowledge, into the feeling of 
an inward principle of life, if ever ye be restored to the 
true unity with God, and to the true enjoyment of him 
again. Ye must come out of the knowledge and wisdom 
ye have gathered from the Scriptures, into a feeling of the 
thing there written of, as it pleaseth the Lord to open and 
reveal them in the hidden man of the heart. 

This is it, ye are to wait for from the Lord ; and not to 
boast of your present state, as if ye were not backslidden 
from him, and had not entered into league with another 
spirit ; which keeps up the image of what the Spirit of the 
Lord once formed in jou, but without the true, pure, 
fresh, life. 

From a faithful Friend and lover of souls. I. P. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEITINGTON* 185 



LETTER LXXIIL 

Of Preservation and a Growth in the Heavenly Life ; its Power 
over the Earthly Nature. 

To THE SINGLE, UPRIGHT-HEAETED AND FAITHFUL FrIENDS 
OF THITTH, IN AND ABOUT THE TWO ChALFONTS. 

Dear Friends, — Have ye in any measure drunk in 
the sense of what the Lord hath done for you ? and have 
ye felt meltings of spirit^ and bowings before him, with 
praises to his name therefor ? Lideed, my request is to 
the Lord for you, that he would please to keep you truly 
sensible of what he already is to you, and of what he hath 
already done for you ; that he would also, of his tender 
mercy and great goodness, vi|it you yet further, increase 
life in you, cause faith to abound, give you to dwell in his 
power, and always abide in his seed, and feel that to be 
your hope, peace, joy, life, and strength, continually ; that 
ye may more and more give thanks unto him, as ye feel 
his pure life arising in you, and death and the grave 
swallowed up thereby. 

Ah ! my Friends, can we ever forget the lost and miser- 
able estate, wherein the mercy of the Lord and his power 
from on high visited us ? O the blackness of that day, 
the misery, the deep distress of that day, which some of 
your souls felt ! Did ye not know, what it was to want 
God, and to lie open to the furious assaults of the enemy ; 
when ye felt no strength, nor knew whither to retire, to 
keep out any hurt, any temptation, any vain thought and 
imagiuation, or to give you any grounded hope in the 
goodness and mercy of the Lord ? How did ye mourn, 
how did ye cry out, and pine away in your iniquities day 
and night ! and knew not which way to look, nor what to 
wait for! Are there not among you, wlio have known 
10^ 



186 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

this state, and felt someAvhat of that which I now relate? 
Sure I am, there are upon the earth, who can witness it 
to the full, whose mouths and hearts are now filled with a 
sense of the Lord's goodness, and of his great salvation, 
and with deep and high praises to his name. 

But, ray dear Friends, is there any of you, (I know to 
whom I speak, even, to the sensible, to the diligent, to the 
faithful among you, • who cannot in truth witness, as in 
God's presence, concerning the arm and power of his sal- 
vation, which ye have often felt? insomuch, that ye can 
sing that song, " He hath raised up an horn of salvation 
for us in the house of his servant David ; as he spake by 
the mouth of his holy prophets/' Do ye not know the 
house of his servant David, with the horn of salvation in 
it, and that horn raised up to you for your defence and 
comfort ? Yea, do ye not (iaily feel the Lord, ministering 
out salvation to you from it ? Are not your enemies daily 
overcome by the faith, which he hath given you in liis 
power. May I not say to you, where is the strength of 
the tempter ? Have ye not felt the seed of the woman to 
bruise the head of the serpent? so that, in the fear of the 
Lord, and in the strength, virtue, and dominion of his 
life manifested in you, ye can say, though as yet some- 
what tremblingly. Where are those temptations, those 
lusts, vain thoughts, and imaginations, which once I was 
overcome by and overrun with ? Surely, I may speak 
thus ; for, I know assuredly, that the power of the Lord 
God, as it is lifted up in any of you, scatters these, and 
gives you dominion over them. For, the life and its 
power is given as a bulwark and weapon of war against 
iniquity and its power ; and, where it is received, it 
opposeth, warreth, striveth, until it overcome. 

And, this is that which gives the victory and over- 
coming ; to wit, faith in the seed. The seed felt, the soul 
joined to it, faith in it and from it given to the soul. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIJS^GTON. 187 

Then, it becomes the Leader, the mighty undertaker for 
the soul, and overcomes its snares and* enemies for it ; 
and, when it hath overcome them, they are overcome 
indeed. And then the soul lies dovm in peace, dwells in 
peace, feeds on the living nourishment, in the green 
pastures of life, in peace. Then Jerusalem, the building 
of life in the heart, becomes a quiet habitation, where 
God and the soul dwell sweetly together; and there is 
nothing that hath power in it to disturb, annoy, or make 
afraid. Why so? Because the Lord God of power is 
present there, streteheth out his wings there, is a pillar of 
cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night there ! He 
hath raised up his glorious life in that heart, whereof he 
is very choice ; and he hath also spread a defence over his 
glory, with which the soul is so encompassed and defended, 
that it feels the walls of this city to be salvation, and its 
gates praise. 

O my soul, travel on ! — O dear Friends ! do ye also 
travel on, into the fulness of the glory of this state. There 
is no other thing to be desired and waited for. This is 
your portion, both here in this world, and forever. There- 
fore, wait in the seed of this life ; wait to feel yet a further 
gathering into it, and a growing up in it ; and give your- 
selves up to it, that it may overspread and cover you. 
And, the Lord God of life daily open it, and manifest it 
more and more in you and to you : that ye may be more 
found in him, and yet more acceptable and pleasing in the 
eyes of your God ; and may sing praises unto him, not 
only at the foot of the hill, in some true proportion and 
measure of his life, but in the very heights of Zion, even 
in the fulness of the measure of your stature in Christ ; 
which ye are all diligently to press after, till ye arrive at. 
And then, there is no more to be done, but to spread 
abroad into, and drink in of, and live in, the full pleasure 
and safety of life, foreyer ! Then may ye eat Ireely of 



1S8 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of 
God, and draw water with joy out of the wells of salva- 
tion I 

Therefore feel, O ! feel in spirit, the mark of the hiorh 
calling of God in Christ Jesus ; and be daily looking up 
to that, which quickens to God, and keeps fresh and lively 
in him ; that none of you grow slothful, drowsy, or negli- 
gent, and so, unfaithful, in relation to the great talent, 
which God hath put into your hands ; and so, the Lord 
be provoked against you, and suffer the enemy to tempi 
and prevail upon you ; that a veil come over your hearts 
again, and the air thicken, and the earthly nature cover 
the seed ; and he that hath power in that earth and over 
that air, captivate, oppress, entangle, and lead you back 
from God again. O I cry to the Lord, to keep the eye 
open, and the heart single, and the soul in the true sense 
and feeling ; that the heavenly voice, which drew you out 
of the earth, may be daily heard further instructing you, 
and gathering you more and more up into Him, who is 
your life. — So, ye that fear the Lord, and love his name, 
and have tasted of his goodness and powerful salvation, 
O hate evil ! All that his light hath made manifest, and 
drawn you from, O take heed of ever dallying with again ! 
O never hearken to the tempter I but pray to the Father, 
that ye may discern his baits, and at no time consult or 
reason with him ; but still wait, in everything, to feel the 
motion, guidance, quickening, and sweet, pure, heavenly 
leading of the Spirit of your Father I 

Hath the Lord spoken peace to you, peace which pass- 
eth man's understanding, and only flows Irom him ? hath 
he given you any proportion of this precious peace ? O ! 
may he watch over you, and preserve you in that wisdom, 
in those heavenly instructions, in that heavenly life, divine 
power, and holy conversation, wherein ye met with that 
peace, and wherein alone ye can e^ijoy and possess it I and 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIivrGTO:N'. 189 

keep you out of all manner of sin, lust, and foolishness of 
the fleshly mind and spirit ; — for, the peace is not there. 
That is the fruit of the enemy to your peace, and it hath 
of his nature in it ; it always breaks your peace, and sows 
distance, difference and division, between the Giver and 
Makei? of your peace and you. Do ye not always (ye that 
are in the true sense, and have received the holy under- 
standing,) feel it thus, and know it to be thus ? it is an 
eternal truth, and the eternal eye, wherever it is opened,, 
witnesseth and sealeth to it. Therefore, this little thing, 
this light of God in you, to which ye were first directed 
and turned, which discovers all the darkness of the enemy, 
and all his deceits and devices, and keeps the minds of 
those that are stayed by it, — in this wait, to this let your 
minds be still turned, and in it still abide ; and the power 
and glory of eternal life, will daily more and more appear 
in you, yea, flow and break in upon you ; to the filling of 
your vessels with its virtue, and the causing of your hearts 
to abound with joy before the Lord, and with thanksgiv- 
ings to him. 

May the God of tender mercies and everlasting compas- 
sions, cause the bowels of his love to be daily yearning 
towards you ; that you may be nursed up with the living 
food, and that which would overturn and destroy his work, 
may be opposed ; that ye may feel it daily go on, yea, 
mightily preserved and carried on by him, even till it be 
finished, and the top stone laid ; and your souls, in the 
true and full sense of life, cry, Grace, grace, to Him that 
laid the foundation, raised up, defended, and carried on 
the building, and now at length had perfected it. And 
thus, whatsoever ye have hitherto witnessed in measure, 
ye shall then witness in fulness ; and see, that all the prom- 
ises of God are of a precious nature, and are, " yea and 
amen " from God to the seed. 

May the life, presence, and power of the Lord be with 



190 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

you in this seed ; in your breathings after it, in your join- 
ings to it, in your abidings and waitings upon him in it ; 
and, the Lord God give you to breathe after it, give you 
to join to it, give you to abide always, and wait upon him 
in it, and never to hearken to and go out after a contrary 
spirit and wisdom ; but keep you in the simplicity, lowli- 
ness, humility, and tender spirit which is in Christ Jesus, 
to the praise of his own name, and preservation and joy 
of your hearts before him forever, amen ! 

Written, in the tender bowels and motion of the pure 
life, from the place of my confinement in Aylesbury. 

I. R 

1st of Third Month, 1667. 



LETTER LXXIV. 

The Holy Scriptures not the Primary Kule. 
To Nathaniel Stonar. 

Dear Friend, — There was somewhat on my heart 
tow^ards thee this morning, which I am willing in truth 
and uprightness to express to thee, as the Lord knoweth. 

There is a great dispute between us and professors, con- 
cerning the rule ; which they hold forth the Scriptures to 
be. Now, truly I could wash, from the depth of love in 
my heart to them, and from my desire of their good, that 
the Scriptures, rightly understood by them, were their rule; 
and not their own reasonings, conceivings, and appre- 
hen dings upon the Scriptures. But yet, if it were so, 
they must needs assent to me, that the Spirit of life, — that 
the Truth, which lives in the heart, — that the law, written 
by the finger of God in the inward parts, — is nearer and 
more powerful, than the words, or outward relations con- 



i 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 191 

cerning those things in the Scriptures. There is a meas- 
ure of life to be received, — there is the Spirit of life to 
be received, there is a well of life, from which pure life 
springs up, to be received and enjoyed by them that truly 
and rightly believe. 

The Lord, in the gospel state, hath promised to be 
present with his people ; not as a wayfaring man, for a 
night, but to dwell in them and walk in them. Yea, if they 
be tempted and in danger of erring, they shall hear a 
voice behind them, saying, " This is the way, walk in it." 
Will they not grant this to be a rule, as well as the Scrip- 
tures ? Nay, is not this a more full direction to the heart, 
in that state, than it can pick to itself out of the Scrip- 
tures? Truly, this ensuing testimony is true, which now 
springs up in ray heart unto thee, which is this : — the 
Lord hath poured out his spirit upon his sons and daugh- 
ters, in and by this precious dispensation of Truth, and 
of the pure seed, which is so despised. And the Spirit, 
which gave forth the words, is greater than the words ; 
therefore, we cannot but prize Him himself, and set Him 
higher in our heart and thoughts, than the words which 
testify of Him, though they also are very sweet and pre- 
cious to our taste. 

There was a measure and rule, whereunto the true min- 
ister of Christ and the believing Gentiles had attained, 
by which they were to walk ; as is mentioned in 2 Cor. x. 
13, 15, "According to the measure of the rule, which God 
hath distributed to us " — " according to our rule," &c. ; 
and in Philippians, iii. 16, " Whereto we have already 
attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the 
same thing;" as also in Galatians, vi. 15, 16, "For, in 
Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor 
uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as 
walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy," 
&c. Now, consider what that rule was. O! that thou 



192 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

mayest know it, and walk thereby, as they that had re- 
ceived God's Spirit did. For, I am assured in my heart, 
that, if thou receive God's Spirit, and live and walk 
therein, thou canst not fulfil the desires of the flesh ; but, 
thou wilt find thy heart opened thereby into a true sense, 
understanding, and right use of the Scriptures. For, the 
Scriptures of the New Testament were written to the 
saints, and cannot be truly or rightly understood or 
made use of, but as men come into their spirit and state.* 

^ It will scarcely be supposed I. P. meant, without qualification, 
that we must be saints, or be brought into such a degree of religious 
experience as that to which the holy penman had arrived, before 
we can be benefitted by perusing the sacred writings. His mean- 
ing appears to be this,— r-that, in order to receive instruction hereby, 
we must let into the mind somewhat which can discover to us good 
and evil, which inclines us to the one, and reproves for the other. 
These are the earliest operations of the Spirit of God and of 
Christ, the same Spirit which so eminently ruled in the prophets, 
apostles, and saints, and now worketh in the children of obedience. 
Undoubtedly, when any have been reached or impressed in reading 
the Holy Scriptures, it has been, because divine light beamed (how- 
ever feebly) upon their souls, whereby they discerned the things 
that belonged to their peace. For we read, that ^' the natural man," 
while in that state, ^' receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; " 
and again, "The things of God knoweth no man," of or by himself, 
"but the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. ii. 14 and 11. 

It seems, therefore, very wholesome and necessary counsel, to 
direct the minds of people, above all other means, to the light 
of Christ, to Christ in his inward appearance, as a seed of life, or 
quickening Spirit ; that, receiving him in the way of his coming 
and operation, all the means of his appointment may be blessed 
to them ; and thus, they may know the things that are freely given 
them of God. For, it is only in proportion as men become willing 
by virtue of some degree of faith, to learn Christ, and to be taught 
by HIM, as the Truth is in Jesus, that they can, through patience and 
comfort of the Scriptures^ have hope; those i^recious testimonies 
having been given forth by Him, who is indeed the promise of the 
Father, and was to be sent in the Son's name, to teach us all things, 
and to guide into all Truth. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 193 

These things are of great weight and concernment : the 
Lord open and guide thy heart into true satisfaction in 
this and other things also, from the demonstration of his 
own Spirit ; that thou mayest be able truly to say, as in 
his sight, ISTow I believe and understand things ; not be- 
cause this or that man hath so said, but because the Lord, 
who is the Teacher indeed, hath taught and assured my 
heart concerning the Truth itself, as it is in Jesus ; which 
I feel to be so, by its living virtue and powerful operation 
in and upon my heart. 

This is my desire for thee, w^ho am thy souFs true and 
sincere Friend, who would by no means have thee de- 
ceived about anything that concerns it. I. P. 

Reading Gaol, 
24th of Seventh Month, 1670. 



LETTEK LXXV. 

On True, Living, Heavenly Knowledge. 
To THE Lady Conway. 

Dear Friend, — I have heard both of thy love to 
Truth, and of thy great afflictions outwardly ; both which, 
occasion a sense concerning thee, and breathings to the 
tender Father of my life for thee: that thy heart may 
know and be joined to the Truth, and thou mayest live 
and walk in it, reaping the sweet comfort, support, and 
satisfaction, which God daily ministers in and through it, 
to his gathered and preserved ones. I am satisfied thou 
hast need of comforts and support-; O ! that thou mayest 
be led thither, and be daily found by the Lord there, 
where the Comforter doth daily delight to supply the 
17 N 



194 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIIS'GTON. 

afflicted and suffering ones, whether inwardly or out- 
wardly, with comfort. 

And, my dear Friend, take heed of that wdsdom and 
knowledge which is not of the seed, and w^hich can be 
held in the mind, without the springing life of the seed. 
The first day I w^as convinced, I was not only convinced 
in my understanding concerning the seed, but I felt the 
seed in my heart, and my heart was enraptured with the 
sense and feeling of it ; and, my great cry to the Lord 
was, that I might faithfully travel, through all the suffer- 
ings and death of the other part, into union wath and 
enjoyment of it ; and that that w^isdom, which w^as not of 
the pure living root and nature, might die in me. Now, 
how I have been exercised and taught since, is hard for 
me to utter. What poverty, what weakness, what foolish- 
ness I have been led into ! how I have learned, in a sense, 
out of the reach of the comprehending, knowing mind ; 
how^ tender I have been of every secret shining of light in 
my heart ; how the Lord hath taught and enabled me, to 
pluck out my right eye, and cut off my right hand, and 
cast them from me, that I might not see with that eye, nor 
work with that hand, but be greatly maimed in the sight 
of men, and in my owii sight too. 

O Friend! wait daily to feel the seed, to feel the seed 
live in thee, and the most pleasing part of thy nature die, 
as it can live out of the seed. O that thou couldst change 
all old knowledge, for that which is new and living ! The 
seed is the well : receive the seed, then thou receivest the 
well : let it spring, wait for its springing, wait to know^ its 
springing : bear all the trials and judgments, which the 
Father of life sees necessary, to prepare the heart for, its 
springing. O feel that which limits and subdues thoughts, 
and brings them into -captivity and subjection ! Be not 
exercised in things too high for thee; — David, the man 
after God's own heart, w^ho w^as wiser than his teachers, 
was not ; — but, come out of knowledge into feeling, and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENHSTGTOX. 195 

there tliou wilt find the true knowledge given, — arising, 
springing, and covering thy heart, as the waters cover the 
sea. And, still wait to be taught of God, to distinguish 
between the outwardness of knowledge,— the notional 
part of the thing known, as it can be comprehended in the 
mind, — and the life of it, as it is felt and abides in the heart. 

The Lord God of my life be thy Teacher ; point thy 
mind to the pure seed of the kingdom, and open it in 
thee ; — make thee so little, that thou mayest enter into 
it, and keep thee so low and poor, that thou mayest abide 
in it ; managing these troublesome times in the outward, 
for thy advantage in the inward ; that the city and temple 
of the living God may be built in it, and thou mayest 
know him daily dwelling and walking therein. Thus, 
mayest thou be married to the Lord, and become one spirit 
with him ; finding that daily removing from*thee, [which 
is to be removed, even] by the mighty arm and pure ope- 
ration of his Spirit, till all that is contrary be done away ; 
then, may thy soul dwell with its Beloved, in fulness of 
joy, life, and peace for evermore. 

This is from the tender love, and fresh breathings of 
life, in thy soul's true Friend, and most hearty well- 
wisher. I. P. 

ITth of Third Month, 1677. 

Note. — E-especting the interesting character addressed in this 
and two other letters, (see pages 107 and 109,) the editor regrets 
he has not been able to procure information, beyond what follows. 
George Fox, in his Journal, about the year 1677, writes, "I had 
meetings at Pershore and Evesham; then struck to Kagley in 
Warwickshire, to visit the Lady Conway, who I understood was 
very desirous to see me, and whom I found tender and loving, and 
willing to have detained me longer than I had freedom to stay." 
It is also stated, in an authentic manuscript respecting Robert Bar- 
clay, the Apologist; tliat the meeting-house, belonging to Friends at 
Aberdeen, was ^' mostly bought with his own money, and some by 
his means obtained from the Countess of Conway, one of the same 
persuasion in England," &c. 



196 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINaTON. 



LETTER LXXVI. 

On Disj)utation ; and on Hearing Wisdom's Voice. Also Respect- 
ing the Puritan State. 

To E. Terry. 

Friexd, — If the Lord hath extended favour to thee 
and shown thee mercy, I therein rejoice on thy behalf. 

Thy desire, that what thou wrotest may be looked upon 
as nothing, and that no contest may be raised from it, I 
am content fully to answer thee in ; nor do I desire to 
have any advantage against thee, nor art thou at all dis- 
paraged in my thoughts by what thou hast written, but it 
is in my heart as nothing, and my love flows to thee ; for, 
I take notice of thy seriousness, and what I have unity 
with in this letter, and overlook the other. 

As touching disputes, indeed, I have no love to them : 
Truth did not enter my heart that way, nor do I expect to 
propagate it in others that way ; yet, sometimes a neces- 
sity is laid upon me, for the sake of others. And truly, 
when I do feel a necess^Ity, I do it in great fear ; not trust- 
ing in my spear or bow, I mean, in strong arguments or 
wise considerations, which I (of myself) can gather or 
comprehend ; but, I look up to the Lord for the guidance, 
help, and demonstration of his Spirit, that way may be 
made thereby in men's hearts for the pure seed to be 
reached to, wherein the true conviction, and thorough con- 
version of the soul to God, is witnessed. I had far rather 
be feeling Christ's life, Spirit, and power in my own heart, 
than disputing with others about them. 

Christians that truly fear the Lord, have a proportion 
of the primitive Spirit ; and, if they could learn to watch 
and wait there, where God works the fear, they would 



I 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 197 

daily receive more and more of it, and, in it, understand 
•more and more the true intent and preciousness of the 
words of the Holy Scriptures. He that will truly live to 
God, must hear wisdom's voice within, at home, in his own 
heart ; and he that will have her words made known, and 
her spirit poured out to him, must turn at her reproof. 
Prov. i. 23. Indeed, I never knew, and am satisfied that 
none else can know, the preciousness of this lesson, till 
they are taught it of the Lord. 

There is one thing more on my heart to express, occa- 
sioned by thy last letter, which is this : — I have more 
unity in my heart and spirit before the Lord, with the 
Puritan state, than with the churches and gatherings, 
which men have built up and run into since. Lideed, 
men have enlarged their knowledge and comprehension 
of things ; but, that truth of heart, that love, that tender- 
ness, that unity upon Truth's account, which was then 
amongst them, many have made shipwreck of, and do not 
now know the state of their own souls, nor Truth in the 
life and power of it. This principle of life and truth was 
near me, as well as others ; yea, with me in that day; but, 
I wandered from it into outward knowledge, and, with 
great seriousness, into a way of congregational worship, 
and thereby came to a great loss ; and at length , for want 
of the Lord's presence, power, and manifestation of his 
love, was sick at heart. But now, the Lord, in great love 
and tender mercy, having brought me back to the same 
principle, and fixed my spirit therein ; I discern the truth 
and beauty of that former estate, with the several runnings 
out from it ; and find what was true or false therein, dis- 
covered to me by the holy anointing, which a})pears and 
teaches in that principle. And, Friend, it is not a notion 
of light, which my heart is engaged to testify to ; but, that 
which enlivens, that which opens, that which gives to see, 
that wherein the power of life is felt. Foi- truly, in the 
17* 



198 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

opening of my heart by the pure power, was I taught to 
see and own the principle and seed of life, and to know its 
way of appearance; and so, can faithfully and certainly 
testify, that that which is divine, spiritual, and heavenly, 
is nearer man than he is aware, as well as that which is 
earthly and selfish. 

O Friend ! if thou canst not yet see and own the princi- 
ple and seed of Christ's life and Spirit, nor discern his 
appearance therein ; yet take heed of fighting against it ; 
for indeed, if thou dost, thou fightest against no less than 
the Lord Jesus Christ himself. I. P. 



LETTEK LXXVII. 

Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the Spirit. The Younger 
are to submit to the Elder 

To Miles Stanclif. 

Dear M. S., — Thou art often in my heart ; and indeed, 
I do many times bow unto the Father of spirits, for the 
preservation of whatever is good in thee, for the clear dis- 
covery to thee of what is not of his pure life, and for the 
separation of thy mind from it; that the life of Christ 
may conquer in thee, and thou thereby be fully redeemed 
to the Lord. I often inquire after thee ; and, when I hear 
of any tenderness or diligence in thee towards the Truth, 
my heart rejoiceth therein. 

Dear Friend, deceit is very deep, and hath much pre- 
vailed ; but, the Lord is gathering out of it, and prepar- 
ing such, by the power of his life, against future snares. 
O dear Friend ! take heed of thy own wisdom, thy own 
sense, thy own judgment, which thou may est easily, 
through mistake, call the Lord's : but, to have all that is 



I.ETTERS OF ISAAC PEKINaTON, 199 

of self searclied out and brought underj and the mind 
made truly sensible of, and fully subject to the life in 
every thing,— this is a sore travel ; and it is very hard to 
come hither, through all deceits and entanglements. The 
Lord entirely join thy mind to that, and preserve thee in 
that, which gives' thee at any time a sense of Truth, and 
of those who are in the Truth : these are to be known and 
honoured in the Lord, according to their growth. And, 
take heed of that which prejudices and disjoins ; but feel 
and cleave to that which uniteth in love, life, and pure 
power. Knovf that unity and fellowship, which is in the 
Spirit ; and keep it, keep it in the bond of pure peace : 
and take heed, O forever take heed of whatever would 
break the bond ! but, that which makes of one mind and 
one judgment, one heart and one soul, that is the living 
principle, that is the living power; which all the members 
of the body are to inhabit and be one in. And, watch 
against the reasonings of the mind, and the thoughts of 
thy heart ; watch to the sense, which riseth up in the fear, 
in the love, in the humility, that thou may est feel the 
leadings of God's Spirit, and come through all that stands 
in thy way ; having the help of all whom the Lord hath 
ordained, and made able to be helpers to thee. For, life 
is not to be limited, but we are to be limited by that which 
is of the life ; and, in cases of doubt, it is the ordinance of 
the Lord, for the weak to receive counsel and help from 
the strong, and for the lesser to be watched over and blessed 
by the greater, — by such as are more grown in the life, 
and into the power. 

So, the Lord God Almighty lead thee fully into, and 
preserve thee perfectly in, the way everlasting ! 

Thy Friend in the true love, I. P. 

16th of Third Month, 1GG8. 



200 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

LETTER LXXVIII. 

The Loving-Kindness of the Lord. 
To Elizabeth W-almsley, of Giles Chalfont. 

Dear Friend, — The thoughts of thee are pleasant to 
me ; indeed, I am melted with the sense of the Lord's love 
to thee, as to my own soul. 

What were we, that the Lord should stretch forth his 
arm to us, and gather us ? And what are we, that the 
Lord should daily remember us, in the issuings forth of 
his loving-kindness and mercies ? O his pity, his compas- 
sion! — (must I forever say,) — that my soul yet lives, 
and hath hope before him ! And, canst not thou also say 
the same ? O my Friend ! we feel mercy and salvation 
from the Lord. O that he might have pure praise and 
service from his own in us ! and yet, that will be little 
thanks to us, but rather a new mercy received from him. 
But, all is his own, and of his own do we give him, — and 
that, only when he quickens, helps, and enables us to give. 
Dear Friend, my desire for thee is, that the power and 
blessings of life may descend upon thee, and that thou 
mayest feel thy God near, and thy heart still ready to let 
him in, and shut against all that is of a contrary nature to 
his ; that thou mayest know that death passing upon thee, 
and perfected in thee, which prepares for, and lets into, 
the fulness of his pure, unspotted life. 

Thou mayest comtnend my dear love to thy sister, and 
to all Friends, as thou hast opportunity, who breathe after 
the Lord, and desire in uprightness of heart to walk with 
him. 

I am thy Friend, in the affection which is of the Truth, 

LP. 

Aylesbury, 
20th of Fourth Month, 1666. 



LETTERS OJP ISAAC PENINGTON. 201 

LETTER LXXIX. 

On Confessing Christ before Men, &c. 
To Elizabeth Stonar. 

Dear Friend, — Whose life in the Lord, and prosperity 
in the Truth, my heart greatly desireth ; even, that thou 
mayest come to the perfect service, and free and full en- 
joyment of thy souPs Beloved ; in which, if I could be in 
any way helpful to thee, my heart would greatly rejoice 
and bless the Lord. This morning, when I awoke, my 
heart was exercised before the Lord concerning thee ; and 
several things did spring up in my mind relating to thee, 
which I may now signify to thee, as the Lord shaJl please 
to bring them again to my mind, and open them in my 
heart in reference to thee. I would fain have thee rightly 
understand, and be found doing, what the Lord requires 
of thee; that it may go well with thee, and that thy heart 
may be satisfied, and thy soul blessed, in believing and 
obeying the Truth as it is in Jesus. 

The first thing that rose up in my heart concerning 
thee, this morning, was, about confessing Christ before 
men. It is a great duty, and I would not have thee mis- 
take about it, or fail in it ; but diligently wait on God to 
know what it is, and faithfully to practise it in thy state 
and place ; which, if thou do, thou wilt find life and bless- 
edness flowing with it upon thy soul. 

After this, several Scriptures, sweet and precious to my 
taste, sprang up in my heart to lay before thy view ; that 
thou, also mightst suck sweetness, and reap benefit through 
the living sense of them, and the bowing of thy spirit to 
what the Lord shall please to make manifest to thee 
thereby. 

The first Scripture that sprang up in me to thee, was 



202 LETTEPvS OF ISAAC PEXINGTOK. 

that of Rom. xii. 2, not to be conformed to this world, but 
to be transformed by the renewing of thy mind, that thou 
may est prove that good, that acceptable, and perfect will 
of God. Thou must stand at a distance from the spirit of 
this world, thou must not touch the unclean thing, but be 
a chaste virgin in heart, in word, in conversation ; if thou 
expect to be married to the Lamb, to become one spirit 
with him, to know his mind, and to enjoy the love and be 
the delight of his Father. 

The next Scripture in my heart, was Rev. ii. 10, " Fear 
none of those things which thou shalt suffer." Upon which 
Scri2)ture, this question rose in my heart to thee. Dost not 
thou fear the sufferings Vvdiich may attend thee, in thy state 
and place, for Truth's sake? Dost not thou look out at 
them ? If thou do, it will weaken thy faith, and be a snare 
to thee ; and such a beam in thy eye, that thou wilt never 
be able to see that particular way and path of Truth, which 
is most proper for thy soul, till this beam be plucked out 
and separated from thee. 

Unto this, was soon added that of Isaiah, li. 12, 13. " I, 
even I, am he that comforteth you : who art thou, that 
thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the 
son of man which shall be made as grass ; and forgettest 
the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the hea- 
vens, and laid the foundations of the earth ; and hast 
feared continually' every day, because of the fury of the 
oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy ? and where is 
the fury of the oppressor ? " O take heed of distrusting 
the Comforter, thy Comforter ! who is able and ready to 
help and comfort the souls of his, in the sorest distresses 
and oppressions that can befall them, either within, or 
without. And, consider this also, that forgetting the 
Lord, is the necessary consequence of fearing man. It 
cannot be, but that, he that feareth man should in some 
measure or degree forget the Lord, — his love, his wisdom, 



r 



I.ETTEIIS OF ISAAC PENIInGTOK. 203 

his power, his goodness, his faithfulness to, and tender care 
over his children in their following him, — especially, in 
the midst of the cruel hardships and sufferings, which 
often befall them therein. 

The next was Samson's riddle. Judges, xiv. 14, " Oat of 
the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came 
forth sweetness." It is everlastingly true, both inwardly 
and outwardly, to the children of the Most High, w^ho live 
in his Spirit, and walk in his Spirit, and are guided by 
the power and virtue of his life. Every thing that would 
devour and destroy them, the Lord destroyeth, by the 
power and virtue of his life and Spirit springing up in 
them ; and, out of that which is strong against them, which 
roars against them in the strength and power of darkness, 
the Lord brings forth sweetness in and to their spirits. 

Then, that of Luke, ix. 23, 24, came before me, (which 
is said to all that hear Christ^s voice and blessed counsel,) 
" If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and 
take up his cross daily, and follow me. For, whosoever 
will save his life shall lose it ; but whosoever will lose his 
life for my sake, the same shall save it." Now, I beseech 
thee, consider ; dost thou take up the daily cross, and bear 
it faithfully for Christ's sake? Dost thou stand a faithful 
witness against the spirit of darkness, and works of dark- 
ness, where thou livest ? Dost thou not comply with any 
worship there, which thy heart know^th to be out of the 
Truth and Spirit of life, wherein all true, holy, living 
spiritual worship, can alone be performed ? Oh ! take 
heed of shunning the cross in any respect ; for then, tho.i 
givest way to unbelief, and to that wisdom, thoughts, 
reasonings, and judgment, which are not of the Truth, but 
of the flesh : shunning that, which God hath appointed to 
crucify sin in the heart, and under which the seed is to 
spring up and live, which is the power of God unto salva- 
tion, to all that abide under it, and daily bear it. 



204 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 

The last Scripture, whicli at this time sprang up in me 
to thee, was that very sweet one in Solomon's Song of 
Songs, chap. i. ver. 7, 8, " Tell me, O thou whom my soul 
loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to 
rest at noon : for, why should I be as one that turneth 
aside by the flocks of thy companions ? If thou know not, 
O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the 
footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shep- 
herd's tent." If thou wouldst come to the feeding-place of 
the flock, and to rest in the pure life, power, and righteous- 
ness of the Lord with them ; thou must mind their foot- 
steps, thou must go forth out of that, which God hath 
gathered and led them forth out of, thou must forsake 
whatever is not of the Father, but of this world, (and, in 
forsaking it, stand a witness against the world,) as God 
hath taught them to forsake it. Thou must wait for the 
same Spirit, for the same cloud and smoke by day, and 
the shining of the same flaming fire by night, to lead thee 
and preserve thee, Avhich hath led and preserved them ; 
see Isai. iv. 5. And this will lead thee out of the same 
Egypt and Sodom, and all the remainders of Babylon, 
wiierein as yet thou mayest be held captive; and this 
alone must break the oppressing spirit and power which 
stands in thy way, through thy faithful sufferings under it. 
And, through the same wilderness and righteous judg- 
ments of the Lord, must thou pass, that they have passed. 
For, Zion and her converts must be redeemed with judg- 
ment and righteousness, and with the spirit of burning, 
and the pain of the cross ; nor dost thou know, how thou 
standest in the way of thy own soul's good, while thou in 
any measure avoidest or escapest it. And, if thou be one 
of the called, chosen, and faithful, following fully after the 
Lord, in the same Spirit, and power, and banner of the 
cross, under which his called, chosen, and faithful ones 
have followed him ; he will lead thee into the same land 



LETTEES OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 205 

of life, rest, peace, and holy dominion over sin and Satan, 
into which he hath led those, who have faithfully follovv^ed 
the Lamb, whithersoever he hath pleased to go before, and 
lead them. So, thou must wait to have thy 'heart daily 
more and more opened, and guided purely, and livingly, 
and sensibly by the Lord, into what he hath led his chil- 
dren, servants, family, and redeemed heritage. For, of a 
truth, the Lord hath raised the seed of life in his people ; 
and what his seed denies, what the life of the Son denies, 
what Truth in the heart denies, all that are of the Truth 
and in the Truth, will be taught by it, and learn of it, to 
deny also. 

Thus, my dear Friend, in the most dear, tender, and true 
love, have I opened my heart to thee, as things sprang in 
nie for thy sake : and the desire of my soul to the Lord is, 
that they may be serviceable to thee, and that thou may- 
est be led by the holy leading Spirit more and more into 
Truth, and live in Truth, and feel the life of Truth living 
and reigning in thee ; being delivered from the enemy's 
temptations, and the subtle twinings of the serpent, which 
thy condition will often meet with : the Lord discover 
them to thee, and preserve thee from being ensnared with 
them. 

Thy constant Friend, in the dear love and service of the 
Truth, LP. 

Amersham, Bury End, 
20th of First Month, 1675. 
18 



206 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIIfGTON. 



LETTEE LXXX. 

Observations on the Ministry. 
To A Neae Eelatiye, 

Dear , — The gospel is the power of God unto sal- 

vatiou ; it is the glad tidings of freedom from sin, of put- 
ting off the body of sio by the circumcision and baptism 
of the Spirit, of being delivered out of the hands of our 
spiritual enemies, that we may serve God, (without fear of 
them any more.) in holiness and righteousness all the days 
of our life. 

The ministers of the gospel are those, who, in the Spirit 
of Christ, by the gift and inspiration thereof, preach these 
tidings to the poor and needy, to the captives, to those that 
groan under the pressure of the body of corruption. 

This gospel, through the great mercy of God, I have at 
length heard preached ; and I have not heard man, but 
the voice of my Beloved ; whose voice is welcome to me, 
though in the meanest boy, or most contemptible female. 
For, in Christ, there is neither male nor female ; nor should 
his Spirit, which is not limited to males, be quenched in 
any. And though thou, through prejudice, call this speak- 
ing of the Spirit through servants and hvcudmixuh, prating , 
yet the Lord can forgive thee ; for surely, if thou knew 
what thou didst herein, thou wouldst not thus offend the 
Lord ; — extolling preaching by man's wisdom, from a min- 
ister made by man, for gospel-preaching, and condemning 
the preaching of persons sent by God, in the immediate 
inspiration of his Spirit. I am confident, if, without preju- 
dice, and in the fear of God, thou didst once hear such, 
thou wouldst not be able to forbear saying in thy heart, 
It is the voice of God, of a truth ; — but, that which hath 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 207 

Dot the sheep's ear, can never own the voice of the true 
Shepherd. 

As for those whom thou callest ministers, if I should 
speak concerning them, the very truth from the mouth of 
the Lord, thou couldst not, in that state wdierein thou stand- 
est, receive it ; yet, am I far from accounting them the off- 
scouring of the earth; for, I look upon them as wise and 
knowing, and as of great beauty in the earthly learning 
and wisdom ; but surely, not as having " the tongue of the 
learned," " to speak a word in season to him that is weary ; " 
nay, they are men unlearned in this kind of learning, and 
such as toss, and tear, and wrest the Scripture, in their un- 
certain reasonings and guessings about the sense of it, and 
in the various doubtful interpretations they give. 

And, whereas I am blamed, for not putting a difference 
between the profane and scandalous ministers, and the 
reverend and godly sort ; my answer is, They are united 
in one ministry : and the question is not concerning the 
persons, but the ministry ; in which they are one, — their 
call one, their maintenance one, their way of worship and 
preaching one, their standing and power of government 
oife ; which is not by the power and presence of the Spirit, 
but by the strength of the m^agistrate. But, the true gos- 
pel and ministry is spiritual, and cannot stand, nor be 
upheld by that which is carnal, neither in its call, main- 
tenance, government, or what else belongs to it. • When 
Christ came in the flesh, the words he pronounced, were 
not so much against the profane and scandalous among 
the Scribes and Pharisees ; but against those that ap- 
peared most strict, and were accounted among the Jews 
the most reverend and godly. And, were it not for the 
appearance of godliness in these men, the persecution of 
the present times had not been so hot, the good old cause 
so lost, and the work of reformation, (inasmuch as relates 
to men,) so overturned as at this day. O ! there was 



208 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

once a good thing in clivers of tliem, ^vhich my soul would 
rejoice to see revived ; but, as the seat of government eat 
out the good that was in the bishops, so gaping after the 
seat of government hath sunk the good thing in others 
also ; and made their eye so dim, that they cannot see the 
mighty breakings forth of the Spirit of Christ in his 
people. I. P. 



LETTER LXXXL 

Of Love, Humility, and Order among Friends. Also of 
Persecution. 

To A Xeak Eelative. 

Ah I Dear , — ^^hy dost thou so often give me oc- 
casion of mourning before the Lord, on account of hard 
and unrighteous charges from thee ! How often have I 
solemnly professed, that there was never any desire in me, 
or endeavour used by me, to draw thee to this way [of re- 
ligious profession]. All that is in my soul is this, — that 
thou mightst have the true knowledge of Christ, that tli^u 
mightst indeed hear his sayings and do them, and not set 
up thy own or other men's imaginations and invented reas- 
onings, instead of the sayings of Christ. 

Now, though I am not for ways or opinions, but only 
for Christ, the substance, the living power of God in the 
heart ; yet, because thou stumblest at these things, and, 
through prejudice, refusest the living testimony of God 
concerning Christ the Rock, building upon that which thou 
hast imagined concerning the Saviour, — in love and pity 
to thy soul, I cannot but say somewhat ; — for, who knows, 
but God may at length give thee repentance to the ac- 
knowledgment of the Truth, and to the disclaiming of the 
way of error. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIJS^GTON. 209 

Thou lavest down three reasons, why thou canst not 
believe this way to be of God. 

First. That God's way is a way of love, peace, and unity. 

Answer. If thou hadst that eye which can see the things 
of God, and didst apply thyself to look therewith, thou 
mightst see that peace, that love, that unity among this 
people, [Friends,] which other men do but talk of. Bui., 
if thou take things by the report of the enemies both to 
God and them, thou shalt be sure to hear and believe bad 
enough. 

They have no war with anything but unrighteousness, 
and with that they cannot have peace, no, not in their 
dearest relations. They love the souls of their enemies, 
and think no pains or hazard too much for the saving of 
them ; being persecuted, they bless, being reviled, they 
entreat, and pray for their pei^secutors. They are at unity 
with whatever is of God, but with the seed of the serpent 
they cannot be at unity; they know the "generation of 
vipers '' in this present age, and can witness against them 
under their several painted coverings, as freely as ever 
Christ and his apostles did against the Scribes and Phari- 
sees. For, the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees is now 
in the world, as is also the Spirjt of Christ and his apostles, 
and they cannot but fight, each with their proper weapons ; 
the one with their stocks, whips, fines, prisons, &c., the 
other with the spiritual armour of Christ. Thus, the one 
of these wrestles with fle.sh and blood, fights with the crea- 
ture, hurts that ; the other loves the creature, seeks the 
saving of it, and fights only with the power of darkness, 
which rules the creature. Now, which of these are the 
ministers of Christ ? These that stir up the magistrate to 
afl[iict the body, or these that use the sword of tlie Spirit 
to wound the conscience ? 

And this peace, this love, this unity they attain, not by 
their own strivings, but by receiving it from above. In- 
18 ^ O 



210 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

deed, all our religion lies in receiving a gift, without which 
we are nothing, and can do nothing, and in which nothing 
is too hard for us. Yea, being kept in that, up to God, we 
can do all things, we can believe all things, we can suffer 
all things. Never was there a generation brought forth 
weaker in themselves, more foolish, more ridiculous to the 
fleshy wisdom, more exposed to sufferings from the world 
and worldly professors ; yet, being kept faithful to Him 
that hath called us, we sometimes feel strength and wisdom, 
even such, as the most zealous in the worldly ways of re- 
ligion, have not an ear to hear the relation of. 

Secondly. Thou sayest, that GocVs way is a way of liu- 
miliiy. 

Answer. If this people had not been humbled and 
broken by God, they could never have entered into a way, 
which the lofty, fleshly part abhors ; nor is this a volun- 
tary humility, but a humility which crosseth and breaketh 
the will all the day long. Thou judgest at a distance, and 
with that which is not to judge, but to be judged. 

Thirdly. That God is a God of order, and not of con- 
fusion. 

Answer. Blessed be the Lord, who hath recovered some- 
what of the true church's order for us, and delivered out 
of the confusion of antichrist. We know order in the 
light, order in the Spirit, order in Christ the Truth ; but 
that which man in his wisdom calls order, is but antichrist's 
ordor, which with God is confusion. To have man's spirit 
speak, and God's Spirit stopped, this is the order of all the 
antichristian congregations, and churches; but to have 
man's spirit stopped, and God's Spirit speak, this is the 
order of Christ's church. It is this order we know, and 
rejoice in, finding that raised in us, which teaches us to 
" cease from man," and his voice [as man] is not at all 
'^ accounted of; " but, the voice of the living God is heard, 
known, loved, and obeyed, by that which he hath quick- 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 211 

ened in us, and made to live to himself. The Iiord is 
judging that which loved man's meanings and inventions, 
all that the human part in us could gather from the Scrip- 
tures, and is nourishing that which is of himself, that which 
can receive no food but from his hand. 

Thou believest not, that Mr. Gurdon, (as the world calls 
him,) or any other godly man, doth persecute these people 
for the exercise of their consciences. 

Answer. I know, no godly man can persecute ; the 
lamb did never worry the wolf. But, the grossest persons 
will not acknowledge that they persecute for conscience, 
but accuse those whom they persecute for evil-doers, and 
say, they suffer as evil-doers. Canst not thou see the nar- 
rowness of this covering ? Would the Scribes and Phari- 
sees, and zealous among the Jews, confess, that they put 
Christ and Stephen to death for conscience? Did they 
not put them to death as evil-doers, as blasphemers, as 
speaking against the holy temple of God, the laws and 

ordinances of Moses ? Ah ! , the children of wisdom 

were never justified by that wisdom, wherewith thou judg- 
est of things. The Scribes and Pharisees were as confi- 
dent that Christ and his disciples were deceivers, and that 
they brought up a new way of religion contrary to Mgses, 
as any can be that these people are deceivers, and that their 
way is new. The scene is turned ; the same things that 
were then, are now ; and the eye of that spirit is as blind 
now, as it was then; it cannot see its own deceit. 

jyierce into the nature of things ! set not up shadows 
instead of the Truth; wait for the gift; receive the true 
love, the true peace, the true unity, the true humility, 
which lies not in the will of the creature, but destroys it; 
— then, we shall soon know one another, and have com- 
fort one in another. I. P. 
14tii of Twelitli Mouth, 1058. 



212 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOK. 



LETTEE LXXXII. 

On the Danger of Self-complacency. 
To Catherixe Pordage. 

Friend, — In truth of heart and tender love to thee, it 
is with me to return answers to the chief passages in thy 
letter, as briefly as I may. 

It hath not been my work, to bring thee out of esteem 
or into esteem of persons. The Lord guide thee into true 
judgment, and keep thee out of judging, except so far as 
that is raised in thee, which the Lord maketh able to 
judge. But, I have known several, who have spoken 
most gloriously and ravishingly, as to the Scriptures, open- 
ing things even to admiration, who have been out of the 
mystery of Truth ; and who have sparkled with the light 
and life of a wTong spirit, though they themselves knew 
it not to be so. 

It is better with him who feels his unwillingness, and 
waits to be made willing by the Lord, than with him, who 
thinks he is willing, and, upon his own search, finds and 
judges himself to be so. I have thought I had been will- 
ing in several cases; and that, if the Lord would have 
showed me his will, I should have obeyed ; which I found 
to be otherwise, when the Lord came to lay the law of his 
Spirit and life upon me. This I am sure of; there is that 
in thee, which is not willing to be impoverished, and I 
cannot say concerning thee, as in God's sight, that thou 
art yet separated from it. Now, while it is in thee, it will 
be working in a mystery of deceivableness, hidden from 
thy heart, which thou canst not possibly discern, but as 
the seed is raised, and the pure light shines in thee. Thou 
mayest easily think better of thyself than indeed it is 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 213 

with tbee ; but, it is hard for thee, in this thy present 
state, to know what and how thou art in the sight of the 
Lord. 

Thou shalt know the tenderness and melting compas- 
sion of the Lord, when that is broken down in thee, towards 
which his tenderness is not, and that raised up in thee and 
thy mind joined to it, towards which his tenderness is; but 
great and subtle workings are there in thy mind, from tlie 
enemy, against God's Truth, which thou dost not discern 
and eschew, but rather embrace, as if they were true and 
precious. If that tenderness were ministered to thee, either 
from God immediately, or from us, which thou expectest 
and desirest, (perhaps, thinking thy state is wronged, in 
not being so dealt with,) it might soon destroy thee, and 
that forever. 

Thus, in great plainness, have I written to thee, and 
beseech thee to be willing, or rather, to look up to the 
Lord to make thee willing, to have the wound kept open 
in thee, which the condition and state of thy soul needs ; 
that it may be thoroughly searched, and that which is for 
judgment judged and destroyed ; and so, thy soul ever- 
lastingly saved by the everlasting Physician, who is wise 
and skilful in ministering both judgment and mercy to 
every one, according to their need. 

Thy Friend in true, faithful, and unfeigned love and 
tenderness. I. P. 

25th of First Month, 1671.- 



214 I.ETTEES OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

LETTER LXXXIII. 

Against Self-exaltation ; and on the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 
To Catherine Poedage. 

Friend, — I observed yesterday, that thou didst own 
the light to be the principle of life ; and that thou didst 
affirm, that those people with whom thou walkedst, also 
owned it, and directed to it. Now, it is one thing to own 
the principle in judgment; another thing to know it, feel 
its guidance, and be subject to it. It is a good step to 
own it in the comprehension, from the testimony without ; 
but yet, they that go so far, may never come truly to 
know and own the thing itself. Now, nothing redeems, 
or can preserve, but the light and life itself. Therefore, 
how to meet with the thing itself, and be changed by it into 
its own nature, and therein to believe, know, will, under- 
stand, and judge, — that is a skill which none can learn, 
but those that are taught of God, and keep close to the 
foundation, not rising in the high elevations above it. 
Ah ! the humility of the seed, and of that soul that is one 
with the seed ! Ah ! how low it lies, and how weighty its 
sense and operations are, and how pure and infallible is 
its judgment! The great danger is, in rising up above 
the thing itself, which whoso doth, miscarrieth, whatever 
lie hath formerly known or enjoyed. 

There now springs up in my mind a state since Adam, 
which I would have thee seriously consider of; and then 
tell me, if thou hast known or heard of such another. It 
is recorded in Ezekiel, 28th chapter, of one that was " per- 
fect in wisdom and beauty." In what wisdom, in what 
beauty? Let thy soul, if it hath understanding, answer. 
For, he had " been in Eden, the garden of God,'' (what, 



LETTERS or ISAAC PEXINGTOJS". 215 

had any been so since Adam ?) '' and had every precious 
stone for his covering." What a glorious temple thea 
was he ! yea, and he was created (by what creation ?) unto 
this state. Yea, he was " the anointed cherub that cov- 
ereth/' and God had '' set him so." (What is it, to be the 
anointed, covering cherub, and to be so set by God !) He 
was also " upon the holy mountain of God,'"" and " walked 
up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.'' Yea, 
saith the Spirit of God further concerning him, " Thou 
wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast" 
created. Yet, after all this, "iniquity was found in " him, 
and the hand of the Lord turned against him. Answer 
me, now ; was this a state of mixture, or no ? And if so 
perfect a state was liable to this, what is a state of mix- 
ture liable to r 

Ah! many have had some touches of the light, some 
true appearances thereof, and tastes of the glory; but, 
who hath been so united to the light, as to keep out of all 
that corrupteth I There is somewhat still lives near, that 
would fain be mixing with it, and drawing higher than 
the pure light of life and truth: but this leads out of the 
way, above the pure, the true, the innocent, the simple ; 
and then, there is a making haste to be rich and glorious, 
and a departing from that poverty of spirit, wherein is 
the safety and preservation. Hovv^ have some that come 
among us, here split themselves by aspiring ! Ah ! what 
a foolish thing it is, to be found singing, before dominion 
is witnessed, and victory over that which captivateth ; 
such songs will end in desolation, anguish, and confusion ; 
for thereby, the lust of the mind goes forth, and that is 
fed, which keeps from i\}g victory and the dominion. It is 
better to know the old bottle emptied, yea, broken, than 
filled with new wine. And, how many have taken them- 
selves to be new made, who, when the Spirit of the Lord 
hath come to search them by his pure, eternal light, liave 
been found and are found in the old nature and spirit ! 



216 LETTERS OP ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

Come, live no more, know no more of thyself; but 
wait to feel the pure seed raised to live and know in thee, 
and to feel its light enlightening thee, and creating a new 
capacity in thee ; and that will give thee to bear the pain 
of dying, and taking up the cross, which will really slay 
every life, appearance, and power, that is not of its own 
nature. Thou hast formerly taken up crosses in a way of 
wisdom, and according to a comprehensive knowledge and 
judgment ; come, now, learn to take up the seed's cross 
in the true foolishness. For, there is not another thing 
that gives life, than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
which truly and really slays ; and to that which can dis- 
cern and take up this cross, and live and walk under it, 
the yoke is easy and the burden light. But, that must 
first be brought under ^nd destroyed, which counteth it 
hard, before it can be felt and owned to be so. If thou 
couldst come out of thy own wisdom and consideration 
of things, into the simplicity of the seed, thou wouldst 
soon recover thy lost ground again ; and see, how the 
enemy with his subtlety hiith gained upon thee, and into 
what great danger he hath brought thy souL 

The Lord searcheth and trietli the heart, and that is 
the true state thereof, which his light disco vereth. That 
is not the state, which the mind out of the light appre- 
hendeth it to be, as we have often had experience of, in 
ourselves. Therefore, be still ; justify not thyself, nor 
condemn the judgment of others, till the Lord make 
things manifest to thee. If it then prove better with thee 
than others have said, that will be thy advantage ; but, 
if thou then prove mistaken, and the judgment which 
thou in thy heart hast condemned should stand, it will be 
thy great loss and disadvantage. 

This is in love and true friendship to thy soul, in a 
deeper sight of thee and sense concerning thee, than thou 
art aware of, I. P. 

26th of Third Month, 1671. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 217 



LETTER LXXXIV. 

To SUCH* AS Drink of the Waters at Astrop Wells. 

I entreat you to consider what is within written for 
your eternal good ; and be not deceived by the enemy of 
your souls, in things of an everlasting concern. 

Some queries propounded to your consideration, 
in the tender, melting love of my heart towards 
your everlasting welfare. 

First query. Is not the great God, who created heaven 
and earth, light, pure light, spiritual light, eternal light, 
in whom is no darkness at all ? 1 John, i. 5. 

Second query. Is not man, in his natural, unregenerate, 
corrupt state, darkness ? And can he possibly, in that 
state, have any union or fellowship with the great God 
and Saviour? See Eph. v. 8 ; 2 Cor. vi. 14; 1 John, i. 6. 

Third query. Doth not the great God, in his tender 
love to mankind, cause his pure heavenly light to shine 
in man's heart, in this his dark and corrupt state ? 2 Cor. 
iv, 6 ; John, i. 5. 

Fourth query. What is the end of God's causing his 
pure light to shine in man's corrupt heart ? Is it not, that 
man might be turned from darkness, and from the power 
of Satan, which keeps him in darkness, to tlie light which 
God causeth to shine in him, and to God from whom this 
light comes? Acts, xxvi. 18 ; that so, following Christ, and 
not walking in darkness, he might obtain the light of life? 
John, viii. 12. 

Fifth query. Doth man, in his natural corrupt state, 
love this light, when it shines in him ; or rather hate it? 
19 



218 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOX. 

And can he hate it, without hating God from whom it 
comes, and of whose nature it is ? 

Sixth query. Why doth man, in his natural corrupt 
state, hate this light? Is it not, because his deeds are 
evil; and because he would continue in his ej^il deeds, 
without being disturbed or reclaimed by this light ? John, 
iii. 19 to 21. 

Seventh query. What does this light of the pure God, 
and of his Christ, do for them that receive and obey it? 
Doth it not bring them out of darkness, and change their 
nature ; so that they become children of the light, and no 
more darkness, as they were before, but light in the Lord? 
John, xii. 36 ; Eph. v. 8. 

Eighth query. How shall it fare with those, who receive 
the shinings of this light of God and Christ in their con- 
sciences, hearkening to the reproofs of it, eschewing that 
which it shows to be evil, and doing that which God by it 
shows to be good ? Shall not they receive the remission 
of their sins from God, and an inheritance among the 
saints in light? Acts, xxvi. 18 ; Coloss. i. 12, 13. 

Ninth query. What will become of those, who do not 
mind the shining of God's light in their hearts, nor are 
turned to it, nor changed by it ; but spend their time in 
what pleaseth the corrupt part in themselves ? Will they 
not be separated, when they go out of this world, from 
God who is light, and have their portion with dark spirits, 
in utter darkness ? 2 Thess. i. 6 to 10. See also Matt. 
XXV. 30. 

O consider these things, Y>'li:Ie ye have time, for your 
soul's eternal good ! that ye miss not of the holy way of 
life and salvation, and so perish ; whom God would not 
have perish, but stretcheth forth his hand of love, by his 
inward " light of life," effectually to save your souls. 

LP. 

ASTEOP, 

20th of Sixth Month, 1678. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 219 
LETTER LXXXV. 

To one who sent a Message to him from Astrop Wells. 

I HAD no end in writing or sending those papers, but 
true love to your immortal souls ; that ye might seriously 
consider thereof, and be found in the practice of them, and 
so be bappy forever. For, as Christ said to his disciples, 
so it is with me in this case towards you, "If ye know 
these things, bappy are ye if ye do them." I have felt the 
sweetness and great benefit of the practice of them, which 
I heartily desire ye may also experience. 

I here send enclosed a token of my love to thee in par- 
ticular, v/hich thy courteous message drew from me. It 
contains, in a few words, the true path-way of salvation ; 
which, though thou mayest know already, yet the reading 
and serious consideration thereof, may not be unservice- 
able to thee. 

I am thy Friend, in true love and desires for thee, 

LP. 

THE PLAIN PATH-WAY OF SALVATION. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Saviour. 

Grace and Truth comes by Jesus Christ. 

The Lord Jesus Christ saves by the grace and Truth 
which comes by him. 

For, it is the grace of God that brings salvation, and 
it is the Truth, as it is in Jesus, which makes free indeed. 

He, therefore, that w^ould be saved from sin and con- 
demnation, must wait for the inward manifesting and re- 
vealing of the grace and Truth in his heart ; and must 
receive it, and be subject to it, learning of the grace, to 
deny ungodliness and worldly lusts in every kind; and he 
must learn of the Truth as it is in Jesus, to deny what- 



220 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOiNr. 

ever is contrary to the life, nature, and Spirit of Jesus. 
He must likewise learn of the grace and Truth, to fear 
God ; to turn from all false, invented worships and ways 
of men, and to worship God, the Father of spirits, in spirit 
and in truth : and, as he learns and practises this, he will 
also learn of the grace and Truth, to live soberly and 
righteously in this present world, yea, and godlily also, 
even as the holy God would have him ; for, God would 
have men live no otherwise, than as his grace and Truth 
teaches them. Now, God's grace .and Truth, and the law 
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is written in the 
inward parts, do not only teach that which is good, and to 
deny and depart from that which is evil, but give ability 
so to do. " My grace is sufficient for thee," said God to 
Paul. And the Truth of Jesus, revealed inwardly, hath 
virtue and power in it ; insomuch, that they who receive 
the grace and Truth which comes by Jesus Christ, receive 
power to become sons of God. For the grace, the Truth, 
is not a notional thing, but hath the virtue and power of 
life, and mortification in it ; and they that truly receive it, 
partake of its virtue and power in operation and exercise 
of it in their hearts, and are thereby really made dead 
unto sin, and alive unto God. 

So, then, he that knows the grace and Truth which 
comes by Jesus Christ, receives it, learns of it, is subject 
to it, and partakes of its virtue and power, he knows Christ 
unto salvation ; but, he that knows not, receives not, is not 
subject to the grace, doth not experience the sufficiency of 
the grace, nor witness ability and power through it to 
become a son to God, and to do the will of God, — he doth 
not yet at all know the Lord Jesus Christ unto the salva- 
tion of his soul, notwithstanding whatsoever he may pro- 
fess or believe concerning him. I. P. 

ASTROP, 

28th of Sixth Month, 1678. 



liETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 221 

LETTER LXXXVI. 

Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood. 
To ElCHARD EOBEHTS. 

R. E. — Thou didst acquaint me, that Timothy Fly, the 
A-nabaptist teacher, did charge me with denying Christ's 
humanity, and also the blood of Christ, which was shed at 
Golgotha, without the gates of Jerusalem ; and that I own 
no other Christ but what is within men. 

Sure I am, that neither T. Fly, nor any other man, did 
ever hear me deny, that Christ, according to the flesh, was 
born of the Virgin Mary, or that that was his blood, which 
was shed without the gates of Jerusalem. And the Lord, 
who knoweth my heart, knoweth, that such a thing never 
was in my heart ; nay, I do greatly value that flesh and 
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and witness forgiveness of 
sins and redemption through it. Yet, if I should say, I 
do not know, nor partake of his flesh and blood in the 
mystery ^Iso, I should not be a faithful witness to the 
Lord. For, there is the mystery of God and of Christ ; 
and that is the soul's food which gives life to the soul, 
even the living bread and the living water. For, there is 
living bread and living water ; and the flesh and blood in 
the mystery, on which the soul feeds, is not inferior in 
nature and virtue to the bread and water. There is a 
knowing Christ after the flesh, and there is a knowing 
him after the Spirit, and a feeding on his Spirit and life ; 
and this doth not destroy his appearing in flesh, or the 
blessed ends thereof, but confirm and fulfil them. 

The owning of Christ being inwardly in his saints, doth 

not deny his appearing outwardly in the body prepared ; 

unless T. F. can maintain this, that the same Christ tliat 

appeareil outwardly, cannot appear inwardly. "Know 

19* 



222 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, 
except ye be reprobates ? " 2 Cor. xiii. 5. " And if Christ 
be in you, the body is dead because of sin," &c. Rom. 
viii. 10. " Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. i. 27. 
" Behold, I stand at the door and knock ; if any man hear 
my voice and open the door, I will come in to him." Rev. 
iii. 20. " I will come again," saith Christ : Ye are now in 
pain, as a woman in travail, full of sorrow for the loss of 
my outward, bodily presence ; but I will come to you 
again in spirit ; see John, xvi. ; and, John, xiv. 17, " He," 
that " dwelleth with you, shall be in you : " and then, 
when the Bridegroom is inwardly and spiritually in you, 
and with you, " your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no 
man taketh from you," John, xvi. 22. And so, the apostles 
and primitive Christians did " rejoice with joy unspeak- 
able, and full of glory," 1 Peter, i. 8, because of the 
spiritual appearance and presence of the Bridegroom. 
And yet, there is no other bridegroom, who now appears 
in spirit, or spiritually in the hearts of his, than He that 
once appeared in the prepared body, and did the Father's 
will therein. 1. P. 



fl 



LETTEE LXXXVII. 

Postscript to some Considerations respecting the Gospel Church. 

Addeessed to the Independents at Canterbury. 

I HAVE been a seeker after God, and a worshipper of 
him from my childhood, according to the best of my un- 
derstanding ; and, at last, sat down in that way, which is 
called Independency, believing it to be the way of the 
gospel, and entering into it with much fear and seeking 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 223 

of God. In Yfhicli way, the Lord had regard to the up- 
rightness and tenderness of heart, which he had formed 
in me. 

But, at length, the Lord's hand fell upon me, breaking 
me all to pieces therein, as to my inward state ; for v/hat 
cause, I had then no knowledge at all of; but mourned 
before him unutterably, night and day, and lay panting 
and languishing after him, who was the only Beloved of 
my soul. Many pitied me, but none could reach my 
state, but, after much serious discourse with me, greatly 
wondered : and some said, it was a prerogative case, and 
would, questionless, end in good-will and mercy from the 
Lord to me. I parted from that people in great love and 
tenderness ; they expecting my return to them again, (the 
love between me and them being so exceeding great, and 
I having let in no prejudice against them,) and I knowing 
nothing to the contrary. 

But, it pleased the Lord, after many years, when my 
hope nearly failed, to visit me in a wonderful manner, 
breaking my heart in pieces, giving me to feel his pure, 
living power, and the raising of his holy seed in my heart 
thereby ; insomuch, that I cried out inwardly before him, 
" This is He, this is He whom I have sought after, and so 
much wanted! this is the pearl, this is the holy leaven! 
do what thou wilt with me, afflict me how thou wilt, and 
as long as thou pleasest, so that at length I may be joined 
with this, and become one with this ! " So, the eye of my 
understanding was from that day anointed, and I saw and 
felt the pure life of the Son made manifest in me ; and 
the Father drew me to him, as to a living stone, and hath 
built my soul upon him, and brought me to mount Ziou, 
and the holy city of our God ; where the river of life sends 
forth its streams, which refresh and make glad the holy 
city, and all the tabernacles that are built on God's holy 
hill. And indeed, from this holy hill and city, the law 



224 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 

and word of life dotli issue, and tlie inhabitants of the rock 
of life hear it, and are friends to the Bridegroom, and 
glad of the Bridegroom's voice, and follow the Lamb, the 
Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, whithersoever he 
leads ; who leads them into the pastures Cjf life, and folds 
of pure rest, and gives them eternal life to feed on, and 
his peace and patience to possess their souls in. 

O ye Independents ! whom I have loved above all people, 
and never had thoughts of rending from you, but was 
forcibly taken by the hand of the Lord out of your 
Society ; — yet, not without a desire to return to you again, 
if the Lord pleased to make any way thereto ; — I say, O 
ye Lidependents, above alF professions the one most dearly 
beloved by me ! — O that ye could hear the sensible, ex 
perienced testimony, that is on my heart to you concern- 
ing my Beloved, concerning his appearance, concerning 
his church, concerning his way, his Truth, his kingdom. 
It is nigher than ye are aware, and above all that ye can 
comprehend concerning it. O that ye might inwardly 
know these things I Turn in, turn in : mind what stirs in 
your hearts ; what moves against sin, what moves towards 
sin. The one is the Son's life, the Son's grace, the Son's 
Spirit ; the other is the spirit and nature which is contrary 
thereto. If ye could but come to the sense of this, and 
come to a true, inward silence, and waiting, and turning 
at the reproofs of heavenly wisdom, and know the heavenly 
drawings into that which is holy and living; ye would 
soon find the Lord working in your hearts, to stop the 
issues of death, and to open the issues of life there ; and 
ye would find yourselves anointed daily by the Lord, (for 
there is not a day but we need to see, nor a day but the 
Lord gives sight,) and an understanding also would be 
given you to know Him that is true, and the " eternal life," 
1 John, i. 2, and an abiding in him that is true. And, 
abiding here, ye cannot fail of receiving power, (from him 



LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 225 

who ministers according to the power of the endless life,) 
not only to overcome sin and your souFs enemies, but to 
become sons to God, with delight performing his will. 
And that yoke which yokes down and subdues sin in you, 
will be easy, yea, the ease, pleasure, and joy of your souls. 
The Lord open an ear in you to hear as the learned, that 
ye may become experiencers and possessors of these things ; 
for, of a truth, the Lord is arisen to shake terribly the 
earth, and to build up his Zion, and to give unto his people 
" a peaceable habitation, and sure dwellings, and quiet 
resting-places " upon mount Zion. Isai. xxxii. 18. 

I. P. 



LETTEE LXXXVIIL 

The Way to Life Narrow ; Hard Things Made Easy to the Obe- 
dient. Also, Some Answers to Objections on Prayer, &c. 

To Catherine Pordage. 

Friend,— It is true, the way to life is so difficult and 
intricate, that none can find it, but such as are lighted by 
the Lord, and follow the guidance of his Spirit. 

Christ, who preached the kingdom, and bid men seek 
it, yet said, " Strait is the gate and narrow is the way 
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." 
In a race, many run, but one obtaineth the prize. Canst 
thou read what Christ said, '^ Except ye eat the flesh of 
the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in 
you ; " that seemed a hard saying to some of his own dis- 
ciples, many of whom left him. And truly. Friend, as it 
is not an easy thing to come into the way, so neither is it 
an easy thing to abide in the way ; for, many are the 
by-paths, many and great the temptations, both on the 

P 



226 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIIS^GTON. 

right hand, and on the left. The way was always the 
same, full as difficult and hard formerly as now ; but, the 
states and conditions of some make it harder to them, 
than it is to others ; yea, it is easier now, than it hath 
been in many foregoing generations, being prepared and 
cast up by the Lord. 

It is sad, indeed, that any should be convinced of Truth, 
and not come into subjection to it ; yet, it is very easy and 
common. For, men cannot withstand conviction, when it 
comes in power ; but, they may deny obedience to that, 
which they are convinced of; nay, some in the apostles' 
day went further, even to taste of the heavenly gift, and 
powers of the world to come, and to partake of the Holy 
Ghost, and yet fall away. Was not this very sad ? and 
yet, this was no well-grounded objection against the Truth 
and way of God then. Indeed, I make little of the illu- 
mination of the understanding, without subjection to him 
that illuminateth, in those things wherein he illuminateth. 
But, that is a great mistake, to suppose I did condemn 
any waiting or praying, that is according to a true illu- 
mination and leading of God's Spirit ; for, the true light 
and spirit are not separated ; but, the exceptions I have 
against the prayers of professors is, that they are so 
much out of the true illumination, in a light of their own 
apprehending, forming, and conceiving. Now, these are 
but the limits of the fleshly birth, out of which comes 
nothing that is pleasing to the Father. 

Did I, or any of us, ever affirm, that the forbearance 
of the means was the way to attain the end ? But, the 
setting up or using a false means, is not the way to attain 
the true end. " So run," said the apostle, " that ye may 
obtain ; " did he not forbid all running, but the right run- 
ning? The praying of the fleshly birth, or in the will, 
and according to the wisdom of the flesh, is not the means 
or way to obtain the everlasting kingdom ; but the pray- 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PE A^I X GrTOI>I . 227 

ers of the true birth are. And, if I should say thus again 
and again to thee, So pray, as that thou may est obtain 
what thou prayest for, — I should not be thine enemy 
therein ; for, it is easy asking amiss, not so easy to ask 
aright. Prayer is a gift : and he that receiveth it, must 
first come to the sense of his own inability: and so, 
wait to receive ; and, perhaps, begin but with a groan or 
sigh from the true Spirit, and thus grow in ability from 
the same Spirit, denying the ability which is after the 
flesh : this latter abounds in many, who mistake and err 
in judgment, not waiting on the Lord, to be enabled by 
him rightly to judge and distinguish between flesh and 
spirit, but are many times willingly ignorant, in this par- 
ticular, — it will cost so dear to come to a true under- 
standing therein. 

Hath not all flesh had some manifestation of God's 
Spirit allotted it ? was not that which might be known of 
God manifest in the Gentiles ? and ought not all flesh, in 
that, to call upon the Lord, as the true sense is given 
them therefrom ? But because of this, might the heathen 
pray according to their own imagination ? Is there not a 
rule of prayer ? Is not God's light, God's gift, God's 
Spirit, the rule to all ? Is any prayer required or accepted 
out of this ? Indeed, he that hath the sense of being but 
a dog, as I may say, and not worthy to be counted a 
child, yet, may pray for crumbs, and be heard, and re- 
ceive them. But, what are prayers, out of the light and 
life of God's Spirit? are they not prayers of the fleshly 
birth, fleshly will, fleshly wisdom ? can they that are in 
the flesh, or pray in the flesh, please God ? O forsake 
thy own wisdom, reasonings, will, and desires! that thou 
mayest come to true understanding in this particular. 

As to stirring up the gift, 2 Tim. i. 6, Paul knew to 
whom he wrote : Timothy had a great understanding, and 
both knew the gift and how to stir it u}) ; but, he that 



228 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

hath not a true understanding, may stir up somewhat else, 
instead of stirring up the gift, and so, kindle a fire of his 
own, and offer up his own sacrifice, with his own fire, 
neither of which are acceptable to the Lord. 

The troubled soul is not only to go to the Lord, but, it 
must be taught by him, how to go to Him. The Lord is 
the Teacher; and this is a great lesson, which the soul 
cannot learn of itself, but as it is taught by him. Men 
abound in their several ways in religion, in that which 
God is arising to scatter and confound ; so that, it is not 
the great and main work to be found doing, but to be 
found doing aright, from the true teachings, and from the 
right Spirit. 

In the time of great trouble, there may be life stirring 
underneath, and a true and tender sense, and pure desires, 
in which there may be a drawing nigh and breathing of 
heart to the Lord ; but, in the time of trouble and great 
darkness, may not a man easily desire amiss, and pray 
amiss, if he have not his Guide ? A little praying from 
God's Spirit, and in that which is true and pure, is better 
than thousands of vehement desires in one's own will, and 
after the flesh. For, as long as a man prayeth thus, that 
which should die in him, lives in his very prayers ; and 
how shall it ever be destroyed, if it get food and gain 
strength there ? But, life and virtue may be felt, and that 
which troubleth be near too, and greatly troubling. Did 
Christ feel neither life nor virtue, in the time of his great 
trouble ? 

We neither lay weight on outward things, as considered 
in themselves, nor take off from the inward. Ah I con- 
sider what spirit this charge comes from ; and if thou 
discern it, take heed of joining to it, and bringing forth 
the fruits of it any more. What, if God hath chosen 
weak and foolish things to the eye of man's wisdom, now, 
as formerly? Do we, in so testifying, lay any more 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 229 

weight thereupon, than God layeth? And what, if. 
God hath thrown by all preachings, prayings, singings, 
(yea, inward,) which are not in his Spirit, but from the 
transforming spirit and birth. Do we herein debase, oi 
testify against, any thing that is inwardly of God? The 
outward which is right in God's sight, must come from the 
inwaTd,''h\xt not from the inward will or wisdom of the 
flesh, but from the inward light and Spirit of God ; but, 
it is a great matter to receive singly and go along with 
the inward light, and avoid the inward, deceitful appear- 
ance of things. 

There is one thing hath been with me all along, still, 
throughout thy letter, even a cry to thee for obedience, 
obedience to the Spirit and power of the Lord ; and to 
consider, whether disobedience hath not drawn this dark- 
ness and power of the enemy upon thee. It is not thy 
proper work to look out at the way, or think it hard, (for, 
it is not so to the true seed,) but, to be travelling i*n faith- 
fulness, as thou art drawn and led; and this will save 
thee much sorrow. 

As for Christ being a Mediator and Reconciler, it is by 
his death and life ; both of which are partaken of, in the 
light which comes from him, even in the grace and truth 
which he dispenseth. For, as God wrought all in him by 
the fulness which he bestowed on him, so, he works all in 
his by a measure of the same Spirit, life, and power. But, 
why dost thou so desire to be able to comprehend and 
reason about these things ? — that is not thy present work, 
but . to feel after and be joined to that, whereby Christ 
reneweth and changeth the mind, and wherein he gives 
the knowledge of his good, and acceptable, and perfect 
will. Take heed of being exalted above measure, or de- 
siring to know the things of the kingdom after tlie flesh , 
for, it is better to lie low, and as a child to enter the king- 
dom, and to receive the knowledge of the things of God 
20 



230 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

there, than to be feeding that knowing mind, which is to 
be kept out and famished. 

Ah ! watch, that thou mayest not lose thy Leader, and 
nleet with the deceiver, instead of Him that is true ; and 
so, go back from light, life, truth, and power, instead of 
going forwards toward them. Indeed, this letter of thine 
makeg me afraid, as Paul speaketh to the Galatiafis, lest I 
have bestowed labour on thee in vain ; for, there seems to 
me to be in thee, a strengthening of thy mind towards re- 
turning back to that, from which the Lord in his mercy 
hath been redeeming and gathering thee. If thou feel 
the right seed, and come to be of the right seed, the way 
of the seed w^ill not be too hard for thee ; otherwise, it will. 

This is to thee, in love and grief, from thy soul's true 
Friend, L P. 

21st of Sixth Month, 1671. 



LETTER LXXXIX. 

The Scriptures Exceedingly Precious. The Gospel a Ministration 
of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The Liability of Losing 
the Sense and Savour of this. 

Peofessoes have long known the name of Christ, and 
what the Scripture relateth concerning him so named; 
but, O that they could once know Christ [himself,] and 
receive him into their vessels, and feel life flowing from 
him into them. Then, would they indeed know Christ 
according to the Spirit ; which knowledge quickeneth, but 
the literal knowledge killeth. For, he that hath the Son, 
he that is in true union with Him, and really changed by 
him, so as to become one nature and Spirit with Him, he 
hath life ; but, he that hath not the Son, hath not the life 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PE:N^I]S-GT0N . 231 

of the Son, nor the liberty of the Son, but is in the death 
of sin, and in service unto sin. 

The directions from God's Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, 
are exceedingly weighty and precious in themselves, and 
very proper to the several states to which they were given 
forth ; and, blessed is he, who is found in the practice and 
observation of them. And it hath been the desire of my 
heart from my childhood, and still is, that I might be 
found walking with the Lord, according to what is there 
taught and prescribed to the children of God, in the sev- 
eral foregoing ages and generations; which things were 
written, and are useful, for our instruction also, being 
read by us, and heeded, in that which gives the true under- 
standing of them. 

But, though this was my desire, yet, in my way to attain 
this, I missed ; for, I thought, that by getting the direc- 
tions of Scripture into my mind, and applying myself to 
the strict observation of them, and praying for God's Spirit 
and help, I might obtain what I desired. And truly, the 
Lord was merciful to me, and did help me in a great meas- 
ure, to walk uprightly and lowlily with him, and inof- 
fensively before men ; yet not so, but that I often felt the 
temptations and darkness of the enemy nearer me than my 
rule, and in many cases knew not what to do, nor how to 
be resolved from the Scriptures. 

At length, the Lord greatly distressed me, and brought 
me to a fuller sense of my want of his Spirit and power, 
and dashed all my religion in pieces; that I was just like 
Babylon, for in one hour judgment and desolation came 
upon me. Rev. xviii. 10 ; and I knew not what to do without 
the Lord, nor which way to draw nigh to him — but, then 
was the Lord preparing for me that day of mercy, which 
since, in his tender goodness, is broken in upon me. And 
now, the eye which he hath opened in me sceth, tliat the 
gospel is a ministration of the Spirit and power of the Lord 



232 LETTERS'OF^isAAC PENINGTON. 

Jesus Christ ; and that he who would be his disciple in- 
deed, must be turned to His Spirit, and receive the imme- 
diate light and shinings of His Spirit into his vessel ; and 
must feel the law of life, the holy laws of the new cove- 
nant, not comprehended outwardly in his mind, but writ- 
ten inwardly in his heart by the finger of God's Spirit. 
And, being written in his heart, they have power over his 
heart, and cause him to obey them ; so that, being here, 
he cannot possibly but fulfil the holy directions of the 
Scriptures, he being in that from which they came, which 
reveals the substance of them unto him, and makes them 
living and powerful in him. For, indeed, the law of sin 
and death hath power over a man so long as he liveth ; 
but, when he meets with that, which kills sin and death 
in him, and maketh him alive to God, and he receives life 
in abundance in and through the Lord Jesus Christ ; then, 
the fruits of life become easy and natural to him, and the 
fruits and ways of sin, unbelief, and disobedience unnatural : 
and here, the yoke is easy and the burden light, and none 
of the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ grievous. 
But, take them merely out of the letter, not feeling the Spirit 
leading into them, and quickening and enabling to the per- 
formance of them, O how heavy, how hard are they ! How 
impossible to believe aright, hope aright, pray aright, 
walk aright, watch aright over the heart, fight against the 
enemies, lusts, and corruptions aright ! &c. On th^ other 
hand, how pleasant is the way of life in the covenant of 
life, in the power and virtue of life, and ministered from 
the Spirit of our God ! and here, he is praised, and victory 
over his enemies witnessed, and peace with him enjoyed in 
the pure seed of life ; blessed be the name of our God for- 
ever ! For the letter, or description of things, is not the 
way ; but the life is the way, the Spirit the way, the power 
the way, the Truth as it is in Jesus the way, which none 
can truly and rightly know, but as they are ingrafted into 
and formed in him, and he formed in them ; — this is only 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 233 

obtained, witnessed, and preserved, in the sours union and 
communion with, and obedience to his Spirit and power 
inwardly revealed and made manifest. 

Friend, there is somewhat further in my heart towards 
thee, which I have the true and certain sense of, which is 
this : the Lord, who is near thee with his Holy Spirit and 
power, hath been begetting life in thee, and hath at times 
given thee a true sense and discerning, in some measure ; 
but, there is also somewhat near thee, which watcheth to 
destroy and devour what the Holy Spirit of God begets in 
thee, and to beget another sense and belief in thee, differ- 
ent therefrom, and indeed contrary thereto. Now, it be- 
hoveth thee lexceedingly to watch, and to pray to the Lord 
for help ; for, the life of thy soul depends upon the one 
of these, and death and destruction will inevitably break 
in upon thee, and have power over thee, if thou hearken 
to the other. Whom doth the enemy so much strive to 
devour, as the sheep and inheritance of the Lord ? And, 
they are only preserved in the Lord's way, and in subjec- 
tion to his Spirit. O how many hath the enemy betrayed 
and deceived of the life of their souls ! how many men's 
spirits are now cankered, and the good long ago eaten 
out of them, who had once some tenderness and upright 
breathings after the Lord ! but now, their silver has be- 
come dross, and their wine mixed with water, so that the 
very nature and property of it is changed ; the salt having 
lost its savour, — wherewith shall it be seasoned ? I men- 
tion this to thee, that thou mayest watch and pray ; that 
thou thyself do not lose thy savour, and sense, and tender- 
ness, which the Lord at some times kindleth in thee, by 
hearkening to the subtle reasonings and suggestions of 
another spirit, either in thyself or others. 

This is in the nakedness of my heart, as in the Lord's 
sight, and in the truth of friendship towards thee. 

27th of Ninth Month, 1670. I. P. 

20* 



234 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 



LETTER XC. 

On Abiding in the Eoot of Life. 

For my dear Friends, BRETHREisr, and Sisters in the 
Truth, in and about the two Chalfonts. 

Friends, — The Lord will wonderfully teach his people, 
and w^onderfully help them ! he will pour of his life and 
virtue into them, and cause his strength to appear in them, 
and break forth through them, to the glorifying of his 
name, and making glad the hearts of those that have 
breathed after him, and waited for him. Therefore, let us 
lift up our heads, and " fear the Lord, and his goodness in 
the latter days!" And, let us wait to be made able by 
him to receive of his riches, and drink in of his fulness, 
that we may become rich and full in him, and kept empty 
and poor in ourselves ; that the more the life ariseth in 
us, the more we may feel our own nothingness, and be to 
the praise of the riches of his grace and mercy, wherein 
and whereby he hath made us accepted in his Beloved. 

And, dear Friends, mind the principle, mind the root, 
into which the Lord hath ingrafted us ; that we may abide 
and grow up therein, and daily find and feel the sap 
thereof springing up in us, and quickening us more and 
more to God. Ye know how ye entered ; even so, ye must 
abide and grow up, — even, in the light, in the life, in the 
power, which gathered, preserveth, and causeth to flourish. 
So, my dear Friends, let us all dwell in our everlasting 
habitation, and no more go forth, but sink into the king- 
dom, and wait to feel the dominion, righteousness, holiness, 
power, and purity thereof, daily revealed more and more 
in our hearts. For, there is no other root or spring of life, 
than that into w^hich the Lord hath gathered us, no other 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 235 

true life and power in any vessel upon the earth, besides 
that which springs therefrom. Therefore feel, O ! feel that 
which establisheth, and that wherein the establishment is, 
and your union, life, and strength therein ; that ye may 
not be bowed down or overborne by whatever happens, 
either from within or without; but, may feel and enjoy 
the rest and peace of your souls, in that which is over all, 
and orders all to the good of those who fear him, and in 
uprightness of heart wait upon him ! LP. 

Aylesbury Gaol, 
23rd of Fourth Month, 1667. 



LETTER XCL 



The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. Believers may partake thereof 
through obedience, and be preserved from every harm. 

To Friends of both the Chalfonts. 

Oh 1 the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the riches 
of love, mercy, life, power, and grace of our God, which 
are treasured up for the soul in the Lord Jesus ; and are 
freely dispensed and given out by him, to them that come 
unto him, wait upon him, abide in him, and give up faith- 
fully to the law of his life, — whose delight it is, to be 
found in subjection and obedience to the light and requir- 
ings of his Spirit. 

Feel, my Friends, O ! feel your portion, and abide in 
that wherein the inheritance is known, received and 
enjoyed. For, there is no knowing Christ truly and sen- 
sibly, but by a measure of his life felt in the heart, whereby 
it is made capable of understanding the tluDgs of the 
kingdom. The soul without him is dead : by the quicken- 
ings of his Spirit, it comes to a sense and cap.icity of un- 



236 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PEXIKGTON. 

derstanding the things of God. Life gives it a feeling, 
a sight, a tasting, a hearing, a smelling of the heavenly 
things, by which senses it is a,ble to discern and distinguish 
them from the earthly things. And, from this measure of 
life, the capacity increaseth, the senses grow stronger ; it 
sees more, feels more, tastes more, hears more, smells more. 
Now, when the senses are grown up to strength, then comes 
settlement and stability, assurance and satisfaction. Then, 
the soul is assured of, and established concerning the things 
of God in the faith, and the faith gives assurance to the 
understanding ; so that doubtings and disputes in the mind 
fly away, and the soul lives in the certain demonstration, 
and fresh sense, and power of life. It daily feels the eternal 
Word and power of life^ to be, in the heart and soul, what 
is testified of it in the Scripture. It knows the flesh and 
blood of the Lamb, the water and wine of the kingdom, 
the bread which comes down from heaven into the vessel, 
from all other things, by its daily feeding on it, and con- 
verse with it in spirit. What heart can conceive the right- 
eousness, the holiness, the peace, the joy, the strength of 
life that is felt here ! 

For, Friends, there is no straitness in the Fountain. 
God is fulness: and it is his delight to empty himself into 
the hearts of his children ; and he doth empty himself, ac- 
cording as he makes way in them, and as they are able to 
drink in of his living virtue. Therefore, where the soul is 
enlarged, where the senses are grown strong, where the 
mouth is opened wide, (the Lord God, standing ready to 
pour out of his riches,) what should hinder it from being 
filled ? And, being filled, how natural is it to run over, 
and break forth inwardly, in admiration and deep sense of 
spirit, concerning what it cannot utter ! saying, O the ful- 
ness, O the depth, height, breadth, and length of the love ! 
O the compassion, the mercy, the tenderness of our Father! 
How hath he pitied, how hath he pardoned, beyond what 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTTON. 237 

the heart could believe ! how hath he helped in the hour 
of distress ! how hath he conquered, and scattered the 
enemies ! which, in the unbelief, the heart was ready often 
to say, were unconquerable, and that it should one day 
die, by the hand of one or other of its mighty enemies, 
lusts, and corruptions. How hath he put an end to doubts, 
fears, disputes, troubles, wherewith the mind was over- 
whelmed and tossed ! and now, he extends peace like a 
river ; now, he puts the soul forth out of the pit, into the 
green pastures ; now, it feeds on the freshness of life, and 
is satisfied, and drinks of the river of God's pleasure, and 
is delighted ! and sings praise to the Lamb, and Him that 
sits on the throne, saying. Glory, glory ! life, power, do- 
minion, and majesty, over all the powers of darkness, over 
all the enemies of the soul, be to thy name for evermore ! 
Now, my dear Friends, ye know somewhat of this, and 
ye know the way to it. O be faithful, be faithful ! — travel 
on, travel on ; let nothing stop you ; but, wait for and 
daily follow the sensible leadings of that measure of life, 
which God hath placed in you, — w^hich is one with the 
fulness, and into which the fulness runs daily and fills it, 
that it may run into you and fill you. O that ye were 
enlarged in your own hearts, as the bowels of the Lord 
are enlarged towards you ! It is the day of love, of 
mercy, of kindness, of the working of the tender hand, — 
of the wisdom, power, and goodness of our God, manifested 
richly in Jesus Christ ! ! why should there be any stop 
in any of us ? The Lord remove that which stands in the 
way ; and, in the faithful waiting on the power which is 
arisen, the Lord will remove, yea, the Lord doth remove ; 
and growth in his Truth and power, is witnessed by those 
that wait upon him. So, my dear Friends, be encouraged 
to wait upon the Lord in the pure fear, in the precious 
faith and hope which is of him ; and ye will see and ieel, 
he will exalt the horn of his Anointed in you, over the 



?38 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON, 

horn of that which is unanoiuted, and will sweep, and 
cleanse, and purify, even till he hath left no place for the 
impure : and then ye shall become his full dwelling-place, 
the place of his rest, the place of his delight, the place of 
his displaying his pure life and glory ; and he will be your 
perfect dwelling-place for evermore ! 

May the Lord God in his tender mercy, and because of 
his deep and free love unto us, guide our hearts daily 
more and more in the travel, and into the possession of 
this ; that every soul may inherit and possess, notwith- 
standing all its enemies, what it hath travelled into, and 
may also daily, further and further, travel into what is 
yet before. L P. 

Aylesbury GAoii, 
2nd and 3rd of Sixth Month, 1667. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

Friends, — Be not discouraged because of your soul's 
enemies. Are ye troubled with thoughts, fears, doubts, 
imaginations, reasonings, &c ? yea, do ye see, yet, much 
in you unsubdued to the power of life ? O ! do not fear 
it ; do not look at it, so as to be discouraged by it ; but 
look to Him ! look up to the power which is over all their 
strength ; wait for the descendings of the power upon you ; 
abide in faivth of the Lord's help, and wait in patience till 
the Lord arise ; and see, if his arm do not scatter, what 
yours could not. So, be still ^before him, and, in stillness, 
believe in his name ; yea, enter not into the hurryings of 
the enemy, though they fill the soul ; for, there is yet some- 
what to which they cannot enter, from whence patience, 
faith, and hoj)e, will spring up in you, even in the midst 
of all that they can do. 

Therefore, into this sink ; in this lie hid in the evil hour ; 
and the temptations will pass away, and the tempter's 
strength be broken, and the arm of the Lord, which brake 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKIKaTO:N". 239 

him, be revealed ; and then ye shall see, that he raised but 
a sea of trouble to your souls, to sink himself by ; and the 
Lord will throw the horse and his rider, which trampelled 
upon and rode over the Just in you, into that sea; and ye 
shall stand upon the bank, and sing the song of Moses to 
Him that drowned him, and delivered you from him I and, 
in due season, ye shall sing the song of the Lamb also, 
when his life springs up in yon in his pure dominion ; 
triumphing over death, and all that is contrary to God, 
both within and without, 

Now, Friends, in a sensible waiting and giving up to 
the Lord, in the daily exercise, by the daily cross to that 
in you, which is not of the life, this work will daily go 
on ; and ye will feel, from the Lord, that which will help, 
relieve, refresh, and satisfy, which neither tongues nor 
words can utter. And, may the Lord God breathe upon 
you, preserve and fill you with his life and holy Spirit ; 
to the growth and rejoicing of your souls in him, who is 
our blessed Father, and merciful Redeemer — in the Lord 
Jesus Christ, our Head and King forever and for ever- 
more ! 

And then, as to what may befall us outwardly, in this 
confused state of things, shall we not trust our tender 
Father, and rest satisfied in his will ? Are we not engraven 
in his heart, and on the palms of his hands, and can he 
forget us in any thing he doth ? Shall any thing hurt us? 
Shall any thing come between us and our life, between us 
and his love, and tender care over us ? What, though the 
fig-tree should not blossom, neither there be any fruit in 
the vine;^what though the labour of the olive should fail, 
and. the fields yield no meat ; what, though the flock be 
cut ofiT from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls ; 
may we not, for all this, rejoice in the Lord, and joy in 
the God of our salvation ? And what, tliough the earth 
be removed, 'and the mountains carried into the midst of 



240 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 

the sea ; what, though the waters thereof roar and be 
troubled, and the mountains shake with the swelling 
thereof; is there not a river, the streams whereof make 
glad the city of God ? Is not the joy, the virtue, the life, 
the sweet refreshment thereof, felt in the holy place of the 
tabernacle of the Most High ? And He that provides in- 
ward food for the inward raan, inward clothing, inward 
refreshment; shall he not provide also sufficient for the 
outward? Yea, shall he not bear up the mind, and be our 
strength, portion, armour, rock, peace, joy, and full satis- 
faction, in every condition ? For, it is not the condition 
makes miserable, but the want of him in the condition : 
he is the substance of all, the virtue of all, the life of all, 
the power of all ; he nourisheth, he preserveth, he uphold- 
eth, with the creatures or without the creatures, as it 
pleaseth him ; and he that hath Him, he that is with Him, 
he that is in Him cannot want. Hath the spirit of this 
world content in all that it enjoys ? No : it is restless, it 
is unsatisfied. But, can tribulation, distress, persecution, 
famine, nakedness, peril, or sword, come between the love 
of the Father to the child, or the child's rest, content, and 
delight in his love ? And doth not the love, the peace, 
the joy, the rest felt, swallow up all the bitterness and 
sorrow of the outward condition? 

The seed, the godliness, the uprightness, the true na- 
ture and birth, hath not only the promise of eternal 
life ; but, also whatever is necessary for the vessel where- 
in it dwells, in this life too. So, dwell in that to which is 
the promise, and live upon the promise ; yea, live upon 
that, which cannot miss of the promise, but feels the pres- 
ence and power of the Father, in all and over all. The 
just lives by his faith ; and he that is in union with the 
just, lives by the faith of the just, and takes no more care 
than the lilies, but leaves the care of all, to Him to whom 
it properly belongs, and who hath taken it upon him; 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOI^. 241 

v/lio nourishes, clothes, preserves, and causes the lilies of 
the field to grow and flourish in beauty and glory : and 
shall he not much more clothe, nourish, and take care of 
his own lilies, the heavenly lilies, the lilies of his garden ? 

Let us, then, not look out, like the world, or judge or 
fear according to the appearance of things, after the man- 
ner of the world ; but let us sanctify the Lord of hosts in 
our hearts, and let him be our fear and dread ; and he 
shall be an hiding-place un'to us in the storms, and in the 
tempests, which are coming thick upon the earth. 

Thus, my dear friends, let us retire, and dwell in the 
peace which God breathes, and lie down in the Lamb's 
patience, and stillness, night and day, which nothing can 
wear out or disturb : and so, the preservation of the poor 
and needy shall be felt to be in his name ; and glory shall 
be sung to his name over all, which is a strong tower, a 
mighty, impregnable rock of defence, against all assaults 
and dangers whatsoever ; — which, they that have trusted 
therein, have already experienced it to be ; and they that 
continue trusting therein, shall always experience it so to 
be, in all trials and dangers, whatever may happen, of 
what kind soever, even to the end. Amen. 



LETTEK XCIL 

On the Fear of God. 



To THOSE PeBSONS THAT DniNK OF THE WATERS AT 

AsTROP Wells. 

There is a great God, the Creator of all things, who 
gave man a being here in this world ; to whom every man 
must give an account, when he goes out of this world. 

This great God, who loves mankind, and would not have 
21 O 



242 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 



1 



them perish, is nigh unto man, to teach him the fear, which 
is due from him to God. The man that learns this pure 
fear of God, is daily exercised by it in departing from evil, 
both in thought, word, and deed, and^in doing that which 
is good in his sight. 

There is likewise another teacher near man, who is also 
ready to teach such as do not know God, or fear God, that 
which is dishonourable to the great God, who made man a 
vessel of honour, and to be to his glory. They that learn 
of this teacher, learn not to fear God, or to do good, but 
to please themselves in doing evil, both in thought, word, 
and deed. O ! what account will all such give, when they 
go out of this world, and come to be judged by the great 
God, (who is of pure eyes, and cannot behold iniquity,) 
when all their sins are set in order by him before them, 
and just judgment proportioned by him thereunto ! O ! 
why do men forget God their Creator, days without num- 
ber, hearkening to him who first deceived them, doing the 
will of the deceiver and destroyer of souls, and not the 
will of the blessed Creator and Saviour ! 

O ! hearken to wisdom's counsel, when she cries in the 
secret of your hearts against that which is evil, and con- 
trary to the nature, life, and will of God ; lest a day of 
calamity from God come upon you, and then ye cry unto 
the pitiful and tender. God, and his face be turned against 
you, and he refuse to show mercy to you ! Read Pro v. i. 
20, to the end of the chapter ; and the Lord give you the 
weighty consideration and true understanding of it for 
your souFs good, and for the reclaiming of you from any- 
thing that is evil, and destructive to your souls. 

This is written in tender love unto you, from one who 
pities and loves you, and desires your prosperity in this 
world, and your everlasting happiness with God forever. 

LP. 

ASTROP, 

15th of Sixth Month, 1678. 



liETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 243 

LETTER XCIII. 

Some Doubts Answered Eespecting Prayer. 
To Widow Hemmings. 

Friend, — Well may there doubts and scruples arise in 
the minds of persons concerning prayer, as they come to 
any sense or touch of Truth from God's Holy Spirit ; that 
duty having been performed and practised so long from 
the fleshly mind and nature, and not in the leading will 
and compass of God's Holy Spirit and power. And those 
who doubt therein, cannot be satisfied, till the Lord open 
their spirits, and make the thing manifest to them! yet, 
this is most certain, that all prayer, all true prayer to 
God, is in and from his Holy Spirit ; and whatsoever is 
otherwise, is not accepted of the Father. The promise, 
indeed, is to the prayer in faith and to the Holy Spirit ; 
but not to the prayer of the fleshly birth, will, or wisdom. 
Therefore, the great care and concern in prayer is, that 
that which is of God pray unto the Father, in the quick- 
enings and motions of his own Spirit. For, the dead can- 
not praise God, nor can the dead truly pray unto him. 
And truly, in the forbearing praying, there can be no 
peace, for we are to pray continually ; nor in praying in 
a formal way without life, without God's Spirit, (who 
gives to pray, and who makes intercession,) can there be 
any peace within ; rather accusation and anguish to that 
mind, which, desiring to pray aright, yet know^s not how 
so to do. But it is manifest, prayer is not in the time, 
will, or power of the creature ; for, it is a gift of God, and 
the ability lodges in his Spirit; it is not ours, but as given 
of his Spirit, — which, therefore, is to be waited upon, 
when it will move and breathe in us, and so give us the 



244 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

ability of calliDg upon the Father, and the power of pre- 
vailing with the Father, in the name and through the 
life of the Son. 

Now, as to thy queries, I shall answer in plainness, as 
the Lord shall please to open my heart. 

As to the first. Whenever the creature finds breathings 
to the Father from a sense of its wants, these are not to 
be stopped, but to be ofiered up in that, from which the 
breathings come. For, there is no true sense of one's con- 
dition, or of one's wants, but from the Spirit of the Lord ; 
and the Lord gives this sense, that the soul might feel its 
need of him, and cry to him ; and every sigh and groan, 
that is thus offered up to him, is accepted of him, and 
prevails with him for good towards that soul, which it 
shall certainly receive, as it comes to know tbe Lamb of 
God, and follow him in the leadings of his good and Holy 
Spirit. And, in particular, it ought to pray for the ap- 
pearance of God's Spirit and power ; and, if it do already 
taste somewhat of it, it ought to pray for more of the Spirit, 
and that it may distinguish the requests that rise up in 
the heart, whether they come from God's Holy Spirit and 
will, or from the fleshly nature and will. For, the wrong 
birth also desires the kingdom, and would have the king- 
dom, and prays for the kingdom, and strives for the king- 
dom ; but it prays amiss, and it strives amiss, even so, as 
it never shall obtain, the kingdom being appointed for, 
aud given to another. 

To the second. Those that do not know, nor are sensible 
partakers of the Spirit, yet feeling their want thereof, and 
true desires after it, ought to ofi^er up those desires to God ; 
and keeping in that which begets those desires, they shall 
not long be ignorant of God's Spirit, but find that God is 
more willing to give it, than a parent to give necessary 
things to his children. But those that have prayed long 
for the Spirit, yet have not hitherto received it, have just 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 245 

cause to question the nature and ground of their prayers ; 
since God is so ready to give the Spirit to his children. 
For, doth a child ask bread of his father for many years, 
and not receive it ? O consider this thing ! If the child 
ask the Spirit aright, it is impossible but he should receive 
some proportion of it from the Father, so much as is 
necessary to his present state. God doth require his chil- 
dren to perform every thing to him in and with his Spirit, 
knowing they can do nothing right without it ; and surely, 
he will not require duties of them, and withhold that from 
them, without which, they cannot acceptably perform 
these duties to him. 

To the third. A notion that all the soul's supplies are 
from the Father, is not a sufficient ground of prayer ; for 
the false birth may, and often doth pray so ; but, a true 
feeling of the thing, is a sufficient ground, if the heart 
and mind keep within the limits of the feeling, and offer 
up no more than what ariseth there ; for, truly, that is 
from the Spirit, of the Spirit, and in the Spirit, wherever 
it is found. And, O ! that every one who hath any true 
sense of God, might wait on him, to savour this little which 
ariseth from God, from [amidst] the multitude of his 
thoughts, words, and desires, which are from another root, 
— even from the flesh, and are of a fleshly nature, neither 
are of value, nor avail with the Lord : but, the birth of 
life, the sensible breathings of his own life, in the poorest 
and weakest babe, are always of esteem, and prevail with 
the Father. 

To the fourth. The creature may misapprehend its 
duty, may have a wrong sense, apprehending that to be its 
duty which is not, and may not apprehend that to be its 
duty which is; and so, if the sense be wrong, then the act 
of obedience, (according to this wroi]g sense,) is wrong 
also, and is not accepted with the Father. It is true, 
prayer is of God, and is a duty ; not all prayer, but prayer 
21^ 



246 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEIS^INGTON. 

after that manner that the Lord requires, which is in the 
true sense, and within the limits of the true Spirit and 
power — praying always in the Holy Ghost. The pure 
prayer, the pure breathings of God's child, of the true 
birth, is always within the limit which God hath pre- 
scribed. Therefore, watch unto prayer, watch unto God's 
preparing the heart, by the motion and virtue of his good 
Spirit, and offer up the breathings that then arise ; and 
wait to distinguish between the desires which arise from 
the fleshly part, and the desires which arise from the spir- 
itual and heavenly part. For, the first nature is earthly ; 
but the. second nature, the nature which is from the second 
Adam, the quickening Spirit, is pure and heavenly ; and 
such are all the desires and breathings, that spring from 
that nature in the vessel. And, as thou comest into that 
nature, and into that Spirit from which the nature pro- 
ceeds, thou wilt truly distinguish concerning prayer, con- 
cerning faith, concerning love, and all other spiritual 
things ; and wilt know Him who is Truth and no lie, 
who deceives not, but preserves that mind which is 
given up to him, and abides in him, out of all error and 
deceit. 

Thou seemest, also, to be disturbed about some other 
duties, as well as prayer. If the Lord have begun to put 
a stop to the workings of flesh in thee, and thou be sub- 
ject to him therein, and cease from thy own willings 
and workings, and wait on him to be taught to perform 
things aright, — this is his love to thee; and, if thou 
come to feel the leadings of his Spirit further, and fol- 
low him, thou wilt have cause to bless his name, as many 
others have, whom in this day he hath thus led. In- 
deed, flesh should be silent before him. Alas ! what room 
is there for his Spirit and power, when there is such a 
multitude of thoughts, and workings, and reasonings, 
such a noise of flesh in many hearts and spirits? Happy 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 247 

is he, who feels flesh silent, who comes to an end of his 
own willing and running, though that is a time of great 
distress, when the full mind is emptied and brought 
low ; but then, He that shows mercy is near, and the day 
of mercy is not far off to that soul. 

The Lord raise up that in thee, which is of him ; and 
so guide and order thy heart, that it may long and cry 
after him, and be heard and satisfied by him. I. P. 

28th of Ninth Month, 1670. 



LETTEE XCIV. 

On Drinking of the Fountain of Living Waters. 
To Widow Hemmings. 

There are two or three Scriptures now on my heart to 
lay before thee ; and it is the desire of soul, that thou 
mayest so know the Lord, and so receive his Son, as that 
thou mayest experience them. 

The first is in Prov. v. 15, " Drink waters out of thine 
own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well." 

The second is the words of Christ, John, vii. 38, " He 
that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his 
belly shall flow rivers (or streams) of living waters." For, 
" there is a river the streams whereof make glad the city 
of God." 

The third is that of John, iv. 14, where Christ signifies, 
that whosoever drinketh of the water which he giveth, 
shall never thirst more after water from without, but shall 
forever thenceforward be satisfied with the springings up 
of the well of life from within. 

To these I may add, the precious promise of the sweet 



248 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

state of the gospel, Isai. xii. 3, " Therefore, with joy shall 
ye draw water out of the wells of salvation : " the out- 
ward Jew drew the outward water from the outward wells : 
they had the upper springs, and the nether springs out- 
wardly ; but the inward Jew, in the light of the gospel 
day, draws inward water out of the inward wells with joy. 
The thirsting after it, when the soul could not meet wdth 
it, was a time of great sorrow and perplexity ; but, -when 
the river of life is found, when the well of life is received, 
and the water springs up, the soul draws it from the spring, 
and drinks it with unspeakable joy. This metaphor or 
similitude is explained by the evangelist John, at ch. 7, 
V. 39. The receiving of the Spirit, the receiving of the 
substance, belongs to the Christian's state, as the receiving 
of the figures did to the Jew's state. When the Spirit is 
received — the river, the well of life is received ; and then, 
the waters thereof flow, and are drawn and drunk of. Now, 
the primitive Christians did receive the Spirit, not only in 
gifts and manifestations, but as a fountain of life and heav- 
enly virtue dwelling within them. Kom. viii. 9. And, as 
He dwelt in them, so life sprang up from him, peace, joy, 
knowledge, virtue, wisdom, power, &c. ; even the peace 
which passeth all man's understanding, and joy which is 
unspeakable and full of glory. The presence of God was 
with these, and they knew the times of refreshment, even 
the times of consolation from the holy Comforter. 

These things are witnessed now again, in the preaching 
of the same everlasting gospel, by the same eternal Spirit 
and power, which preached it at first. For, though the 
vessels in which the power appears are contemptible now, 
to the professors and wise ones of this age, as they were 
then to the professors and wise ones of that age ; yet, it is 
the same treasure of life which is hid, and at times is made 
manifest, revealed in and through the earthen vessels : — 
blessed be the Lord ! of whom is the excellence of the glory, 



LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINaTO:N-. 249 

and not of us, who are but instruments and vessels in his 
hand. Now, seeing the Lord hath given us to partake of 
the riches of his grace, and of the precious treasures of life 
in his Son, and of his everlasting kingdom, we cannot hold 
our peace ; but, are required of him to proclaim the day 
of the Lord, the day of the gospel, even the everlasting 
day, which never shall have an end ; and invite to the 
waters of life, the pure, still streams of Shiloh, which our 
souls drink of, and are satisfied with ; — especially to such 
as now thirst after them, as our souls once vehemently did, 
and were near failing through the extremity of thirst ; — 
which thirst or desire, for the nature of it, (blessed be the 
Lord. !) is not lost or extinguished, but satisfied. And so, the 
spouse having heard the Spirit inviting to the waters, being 
taught by Him to come to, and drink of the living streams, 
daily also enjoying life and sweetness therefrom ; now, she 
cries also to her fellow-travellers, to the weary and thirsty 
ones, — O come, saith she, to the fountain of life, which I 
mourned after, and languished for want of! O taste the 
sweetness of my Beloved, for whom my soul fainted, when 
I could not find him ! So that, not only the Spirit of the 
living God saith, Come ; but the bride also saith, Come ; 
for, the fountain is not now sealed any longer, but open, 
through the tender mercies of our God, for every thirsty 
soul ; that whoever hath a will kindled in him by the Lord, 
may come to drink of the water of life freely. 

O ! drink, then, no longer at the muddy streams of your 
own conceivings and imaginations, with which, that which 
inwardly thirsts after the living God, and his pure streams 
of life, cannot be satisfied ; (it is not the true seed, it is 
another birth which is satisfied with these things, before 
the fountain of life comes to be opened in the heart ;) but, 
wait on the Lord, retire in spirit to be gathered into his 
light, which he causes to shine in the heart, and into his 
Son's life and Spirit, which he manifesteth and revealeth 



250 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

there ; that ye may eat that which is good, and be satisfied 
with the fatness of his house, and drink- of the river of his 
pleasures ! For, indeed, the Lord, in this his gospel day, 
doth make to his children a feast of fat things, and of 
wines on the lees well refined, on his holy mountain, even 
in the kingdom which cannot be shaken ; and the Beloved 
doth not only knock at the door of the heart, but comes 
in, and sups with his, and they with him. I. P. 

16th of Eighth Month, 1672. 



LETTER XCV. 



Considerations relative to the Church ; with some Cautions to 
Christian Professors. 

To MY Friends at Hoeton and thereabouts. 

There hath been a cloudy and dark day, wherein God's 
church and building hath been laid waste, and his holy 
city (according to his decree and purpose) trodden under 
foot by the Gentiles ; all which time, his church hath been 
as a desolate widow, mourning in the wilderness. Yet, 
during this season, God hath not left his people ; but, there 
have been breathings and stirrings of life in and from the 
precious seed ; in which breathings of life, they have seen 
somewhat of the beauty of the built state, and have had 
true desires and longings after it : but, in the midst of 
these desires, the enemy hath struck in upon their spirits, 
and put them upon pressing more forward towards it, than 
they have been truly led. So, reading in the Scriptures 
of a Church state and church orders, &c., they thought it 
was their duty to set on building ; and so, have thrust 
themselves into these things, in which they have not been 
accepted of the Lord ; though, in their breathings and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 251 

true desires, they were accepted. And, what hath been 
the issue of these buildings? Ah! the pure seed hath 
been buried in them — they have been as a grave to it ; 
and their own imaginations, and wrought out knowledge, 
and way of worship, hath been of high esteem. 

O Lord my God I raise again, I beseech thee, the pure 
life, and those pure breathings which have been drowned, 
lost and buried in these buildings ! 

Now, dear Friends, the Lord alone built his church at 
the first. The Lord also laid the buildings waste, and 
carried his living temple, out of the shell of it, into a 
wilderness. And the Lord alone can lead his church out 
of the wilderness, (leaning upon her Beloved,) into her 
built state again. Ah ! dear Friends, all must be scat- 
tered, all must be scattered, — all the gatherings, all the 
buildings, which are not of the Lord, that Ms gathering, 
his building may be known and exalted in the earth : so 
that, I would not have you hold up any thing, in this day 
of the Lord, (it is so, indeed,) against the light and power 
of the Lord. The Lord is able, and will maintain his 
building, however weak and low of esteem it be in the eye 
of man ; but, man shall not be able to maintain his build- 
ings, however high and strong in his own eye ; yea, every • 
high tower, and every fenced city shall fall before the 
dread of His presence, who hath now appeared among his 
poor, desolate people, and gathered them within the verge 
of his power : blessed be his holy name forever ! 

And, since my spirit is at this time thus unexpectedly 
opened, in love and in life, towards you, I shall mention 
one or two great snares, which I see professors entangled 
in ; that you may wait on the Lord, to escape the evil and 
danger of them. — One is this : they look too much at out' 
ward time and outward things, and their expectations are 
too much that way. O let it not be so with you ! but wait 
for the inward day, wherein, the things of God are wrought 



252 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTOIST. 

in the heart. And take heed to your steps, thoughts, and 
ways: for, the Lord, who hath long tenderly visited, is now 
laying stumbling-blocks; and not only the world, but even 
professors also, shall be hardened, snared, fall, and be 
taken ; and this word shall be fulfilled, even among them, 
" He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." But, wo 
unto him that hath stumbled at the living appearance of 
God's precious Truth in this our day, and in his wisdom 
hath been exalted above that, which he should have fallen 
down before ! O that none of you, (whom I have dearly 
loved, and still love, and whom I have truly sought in the 
Lord, and still seek,) ever prove sad examples and spec- 
tacles of what I now write, in a living, feeling sense ! O 
that that, which hath mourned and is oppressed among 
you, might live and rise up in the power of life, over that 
which hath grieved and oppresseth it ! for, of a truth, I 
feel among you a wisdom and knowledge, which is not of 
the seed, but oppresseth it. O what plainness of speech 
doth the Lord give me towards you ! indeed, I am melted 
in concern for you ; and, in the strength of that love which 
searches into your bosoms, desire, that the abominable 
thing among you might be discovered and purged out, and 
.that which is indeed of God might spring up, live, and 
flourish among you. 

A second thing, wherein professors grievously mistake, 
is, about praying in the name of Christ ; in which name, he 
that asketh, receiveth ; and, out of which, there is no right 
asking of the Father. They think, that praying in the 
name of Christ, consists in using some outward words, as, 
" Do this for thy Son's sake," or, " We beg of thee in 
Christ's name ; " whereas, that in the heart, which knoweth 
not the Father, may use such words ; and that which is 
taught of the Father to pray, and prayeth in the Son, may 
not be led to use those words. The name, wherein the 
asking and acceptance is, is living ; and he that prayeth 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 253 

in the motion of the Spirit, and in the power and virtue 
of the Son's life, he prayeth in the name, and his voice is 
owned of the Father ; and not the other, who hath learned 
in his own will, time, and spirit, to use those words rela- 
tive to the Son. 

Another thing, wherein professors exceedingly err and 
mistake, is, about the applying of Christ's righteousness, 
which is only rightly done in the Spirit, where the appli- 
cation hath its true virtue. But, man's misapplication 
hath no virtue ; for, notwithstanding that, his sins remain ; 
and so, the comfort, hope, and joy in his heart, that his 
sins are pardoned, is only a pleasing dream, which will 
deceive him when he awakes, and finds his sins not blotted 
out by God, but only in his own apprehension. 

Ah, Friends ! that ye might travel into Truth, and 
meet with the unerring substance of things, that ye might 
live and not die ; and then, ye will see, how man hath 
erred and errs, — yea, even the man in you ; and that the 
seed only, and they that are born of the seed, know the 
living Truth, and walk in the living path, where there is 
no error, no deceit, but a perfect preservation out of them. 
There, it is my desire to meet and embrace you, in the 
dear bowels of love, where we may unite and know one 
another, in the spiritual birth and life, inseparably, for- 
ever; if we daily mourn after, and faithfully wait upon, 
the true Guide and leader thereunto. 

I remain your imprisoned Friend, according to the wis- 
dom of God, and in his pure content and fear ; though the 
wisdom of man might easily have avoided these bonds. 

LP. 

Aylesbury Gaol, 
22hd of Eighth Month, 1665. 
22 



254 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEJflNaTON. 



LETTEE XCVI. 

Hints on steadfastness in the Truth and its Testimony; on Fcrsak* 
ing Assemblies for Divine Worehip, and on Slighting Gospel 
Ministers. 

To Thomas axd Aj^n Mudd. 

Dear Friexds, — Of whose love to me, I have been 
and am sensible, and to whom I bear true love. 

When I was last at Rickmansworth, it was on my heart 
to visit you ; and, w^iile I was there with you, true and. 
living breathings did spring up in my heart to the Lord 
for you. Since, I have often thought of you, and in my 
desires have wished well concerning you, as concerning my 
own soul. 

Your days here cannot be long ; and what ye sow here, 
ye must reap, when ye go out of this world. O that ye 
may now so sow to the Spirit of God, as that ye may then 
reap of him life everlasting ! 

Last first day, my wife had a letter of George Fox's 
sent her, which I heard read that night. Li the reading 
of it, I had many thoughts respecting you, and a desire 
that ye might sincerely and uprightly, without prejudice, 
peruse it ; which I sent unto you, the next day, for that 
end. 

Now, this morning, ye were upon my heart; and two 
or three things rose u^ in me in reference to you as very 
necessary for you, that ye may be safe, and that it may go 
well with you forever. 

One was, that ye keep steadfast in that holy testimony 
of Truth, which was given forth among us at the begin- 
ning. For, tills Truth is the same, and the testimony of 
it doth not vary or pass away, but shall last throughout 
ages and generations, to redeem all that receive it and 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 255 

are faithful to it. The testimony was, to draw from out- 
ward dead knowledge, and out of dead practices and wor- 
ships, after men's own conceivings, into an inward princi- 
ple, and into worship in spirit and truth, both inwardly 
in the heart, and outwardly in the assemblies of God's 
gathering. 

The second was, that we keep in the sense, esteem, and 
sanctified use of those holy instruments, which God hath 
made choice of, both to gather and build up his called 
and chosen ones. It was never well with Israel, when 
they slighted Moses, (though they many times had excep- 
tions against him ;) nor when they despised the prophets, 
whom God sent afterwards, (though they were often pre- 
judiced against them also;) nor was it well with any of 
the churches, when, by the subtlety and seeming simplic- 
ity of those that endeavoured to betray them, or by any 
other means, they were drawn to think meanly of any of 
the apostles or ministers of Christ, in their day. And the 
Lord, who preserved Moses in his day, and the prophets 
in their day, and the apostles and holy ministers of Truth 
in the first promulgation of the gospel, is the same God 
still ; and doth, and will preserve those, whom he hath in 
this age sent forth to publish his everlasting gospel, and to 
gather his lambs and scattered sheep into holy gatherings 
and assemblies. 

The third was, that ye be daily exercised, guided, and 
your hearts opened and quickened, by the principle and 
Spirit of Truth ; that so, ye may know what it is, to walk 
with the Lord, and to feel the power of the Lord, and 
enjoy the presence of the Lord ; and be led by him out of, 
and away from, the mysterious workings of the power and 
spirit of darkness, inwardly. For if, through grievous 
mistake, ye let this into your minds and spirits, instead 
of the Spirit of Truth, ye must needs call darkness liglit, 
and light darkness ; truth error, and error truth ; and iso 



256 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

will err from that, which is indeed the way, into some- 
what, which in God's sight is not so. For, there is a 
spirit of delusion, as well as of truth ; this works in the 
heart as a minister of righteousness, in a seeming light, 
and, warming the heart with a wrong fire, brings it into a 
wrong bed of rest, and administers to it a wrong peace, 
hope, and joy ; setting up there a wrong sense, belief, and 
judgment concerning itself and others. This leads to 
separate from them that are true, and joins to them that 
are false; draws from the assemblies and worships of 
God's gathering, and begets prejudices against and hard 
thoughts of those, who are owned by the Lord, and are 
kept in their habitation by him, who dwells in them, and 
they in him. 

O my Friends ! the Lord give you the true discerning 
of this spirit, and of his own Spirit ; and deliver you out 
of the snare of the enemy, and open that eye in you, to 
which he gives the sight of what is, and who are of him, 
and what is, and who are not of him : that ye may be dis- 
joined from all that is not of God, and joined to the Lord, 
abiding and walking in him ; and may know, that God 
doth not cast ofi* his holy people, gatherings, and assemblies, 
but constantly appears in the midst of such as truly and 
humbly wait for him ; glory be to his name ! 

God knoweth in what sense, in what understanding, in 
what love, in what desire, in what fear, in what knowledge 
from him, I write this to you ; who am a true Friend to 
you both, (in true and faithful love, as in God's sight,) 
and an hearty desirer of your everlasting happiness. 

LP. 

19th of Twelfth Month, 1672. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINaTON. 257 

LETTER XCVII. 

On hating Reproof. 
To Catheeine Poedage akd anothee. 

Friends, — Take heed of that spirit, which will be stir- 
ring up hard thoughts in you of God and his way, and the 
faithful testimony thereof, when, in the tender mercy of 
the Lord, it is given forth to you ; for, that spirit is your 
souFs enemy. Wait, therefore, to know in yourselves that 
which is to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and broken, 
and taken ; for, it cannot receive God's Ti\ith. 

And, take care of that spirit which hateth reproof; for, 
the reproofs of instruction are the ways of life, and, whom 
the Lord loves, he rebukes and chastens. And truly, 
Friends, this is God's Truth in my heart to you both, this 
morning : — the ministration of conviction and reproof, is 
that which ye are to come under : and, it is your proper 
state to wait daily, not for comforts, not for refreshments, 
(that day is to come afterwards,) but, for convictions and 
reproofs of that in you, which is contrary to God. And, 
if ye walk faithfully in this dispensation, ye shall in due 
time know another, when the work of this is over; for 
really. Friends, ye must be emptied of that wherewith ye 
are now filled, before ye can be filled with that which is 
true and living. If I should say one word to you, could 
ye bear it ? and yet this counsel is with me towards you : 
O ! wait for, receive, embrace, be glad of that which re- 
proves you, and be afraid of that which comforts you in 
your present state ; for, ye are to come through the trou- 
ble, judgment, breaking down, plucking up, consuming, 
and burning of the contrary nature and spirit, which yet 
deceives you ; and to witness all the knowledge, profession, 
practices, beliefs, hopes, that are founded there, and spring 
22^ R 



258 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

up tlience, confounded and destroyed, before ye can pos- 
sibly come into the true ministration of life and power. 
(Ye must die to your o^vn wisdom, if eyer ye will be^ born 
of, and walk in the wisdom of God. ) Yea, ye must die to 
that part, that is so actiye from and in that wisdom, and 
which would be labouring in the yery fire for what is but 
yanity ; if ye will receiye the knowledge, which springs 
out of truth and life itself, which indeed flows oyer, and 
coyers the earth of God's heritage, as the waters coyer the 
sea, in this day of his great goodness and plentiful redemp- 
tion. 

When we were in desolation and great distress, indeed, 
unutterable, we had none of these helps and instructions, 
which abound towards you. O what a day of mercy haye 
you met with ? and how great will be your condemnation, 
if ye become as deaf adders to the Spirit of the Lord, and 
so miss of his salyation. And, if ye will eyer know the 
Spirit of the Lord, ye must meet with him, as a searcher 
and reproyer, in your own hearts ; yea, the merciful God 
must ye meet with, as a seyere Judge, and unquenchable, 
consuming fire against that spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and 
faith in you, which is but of a chaffy nature. Truly, 
Friends, it is far better to be stripped of it, than to find 
any rest cr pleasure in it. 

O hear the yoice of the liying God ! His word is nigh, 
nigh you ; and his word hath a yoice that speaks. O that 
the ear that can hear, might be opened in you I and the 
ear stopped, which will not, cannot hear the yoice of the 
Shepherd ! O wait for the Eeproyer ! and turn the ear to 
him, letting in his reproofe, and turning from what he re- 
proves for, without murmuring, without disputing ; and the 
exercise of that ear, will open it more and more : so that, 
ye will come to know the yoice more and more ; which, 
though it prove very bitter to that which is of a contrary 
.nature, and would not hear the voice, yet will be sweet, 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 259 

yea, sweeter and sweeter daily, to the true birth. And 
here, ye will witness true death to that which is to die ; 
and true life, ministered by Him who lives forever, to that 
which is to live. 

But, while ye are striving to comprehend, and to begin 
obedience after that wisdom, ye will find the power, which 
opens to others, shutting you out from that which is true ; 
and yourselves liable to be tempted, and persuaded to 
esteem and take up that which is false, instead of that 
which is true. 

What spirit is that in you, which prejudices your hearts 
tawardly against, and makes you so apt to cry out [be- 
3ause] of destroying ? Is it not that spirit, which would 
save alive what is to be destroyed in you, that your souls 
might live in and to God ! The Lord discover to you, 
how the enemy works in you, against the life and salva- 
tion of your souls ; for he knows what will be the issue 
of this destroying work, if it have its thorough course and 
effect upon you ; and that none of his kingdom will be 
left standing in you. I. P. 

7th of Seventh Month, 1671. 



LETTER XCVIIL 

'Of ''Fleshly Wisdom." 
To Fraxcis Pordage. 

Friend, — There is a mind, which can never know nor 
receive the things of God's kingdom ; and yet, this mind 
is very busy in searcliing and inquiring after them. 

The Scribes and Pharisees were still questioning Christ, 
and desiring satisfaction about the kingdom, and about 
his doctrine and miracles, and the practice of his disciples, 



260 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

but could never receive satisfaction ; yet, the disciples 
themselves were many times afraid to ask Christ questions, 
there being a dread of God upon their spirits, and a limit 
to the knowing and inquiring part in them ; for indeed, 
the true birth learns under the yoke. 

This, therefore, is precious ; to come to feel somewhat 
to limit that mind, which is forward and inquisitive out 
of the true nature and sense, and to receive the yoke, and to 
be limited by it and famished ; for famine, not food of life, 
is appointed for that mind and birth. It is written, " I 
will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing 
the understanding of the prudent." ZS ow, this is precious 
and greatly needful : for a man to know, and discern, and 
watch against that wisdom and understanding in himself, 
which God will destroy and bring to nothing ; for, to be 
sure, while he is learning and striving to know with that, 
God will never teach him, but rather hide the myslery of 
life and salvation from him. And what is all man's 
knowledge worth, that he learns of himself without God's 
teaching ; and which he receives into that understanding, 
which is to perish and be destroyed ? In the new under- 
standing, God sets up the true light ; but, in the other 
understanding, are false lights set up, which do not give 
a true distinction of good and evil, but they call good evil, 
and evil good, and put darkness for light, and light for 
darkness, and cannot do otherwise ; because, the light in 
them is darkness, it not being the gift of grace whereby 
they, see and judge, but a light of their own forming, 
according to their own comprehension of things, in the 
dark and fallen understanding. 

iSow, the Lord hath taught us the difierence between 
all these lights, and the light of his grace, which purely 
teacheth, livingly teacheth, not in the reasonings of the 
mind, but in the evidence and demonstration of God's 
Spirit in the soul and conscience. When we came to see 



liETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 261 

in this light, we found, that that which we had called 
good, according to our former apprehension of things, was 
not so in the true balance; and what we thought had 
pleased God, was abominable in his eyes. And, truly, all 
that are not come to this light, they offer that which is 
abominable to God, and yet think it pleaseth him ; and 
what a gross and dangerous mistake is this ! indeed, all 
are no better than will-deeds, which are done out of the 
light, life, virtue, and power of God's Spirit. For, the 
root must be good, or the frnit cannot be good. The 
mind must be renewed, or the knowledge is but old, dead, 
literal, and fleshly; such as the fleshly understanding 
comprehends and receives, which can neither know nor 
receive what is spiritual. 

Truly, the Lord hath led us a great way in our journey, 
nd done great things inwardly for and in our spirits ; 
yet, if we were not kept under the yoke, but that part in 
us had liberty to know, and live, and act, and worship, 
we should yet perish, and be cut ofl* from the land of the 
living. I. P. 



LETTER XCIX. 

Advice on Church Discipline. 
To THE Women Feiends that meet at Armscot in 

WOKCESTEESHIHE. 

Dear Friends, — In your meetings together to do ser- 
vice for the Lord, be every one of you very careful and 
diligent in watching to his power, that ye may have the 
sensible, living feeling of it, each of you in your own 
hearts, and in the hearts one of another ; and that ye may 



262 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

keep within tlie limits of it, and not think, or speak, or 
act beyond it. And know, O! wait more and more to 
know, how to keep that silence, which is of the power : 
that, in every one of you, what the power would have 
silent, may be silent. O ! take heed of the forwardness 
of the flesh, the wisdom of the flesh, the will of the flesh, 
the talkativeness of the flesh ; keep them back, O ! let 
them forever be kept back in every one of you, by the 
presence and virtue of the power. 

The power is the authority and blessing of your meet- 
ings, and therein lies your ability to perform what God 
requires ; be sure ye have it with you. Keep back to the 
life, keep low in the holy fear, and ye shall not miss of it. 
You will find it easy to transgress, easy to set up self, easy 
to run into sudden apprehensions about things, and one 
to be of this mind and another of that; but, feel the 
power to keep down all this, and to keep you out of all 
this; every one watching to the life> when and where it 
will arise to help you, and that ye may be sensible of it 
when it doth arise, and not in a wrong wisdom oppose it, 
but be one with it. And thus, if any thing should arise 
from the wrong wisdom in any, ye may be sensible of it, 
not defiled or entangled with it, but abiding in that which 
sees through it and judges it ; that so, life may reign in 
your hearts and in your meetings, above that which will 
be forward, and perking over the life, if ye be not very 
watchful. 

So, the Lord God of my life be with you, and season 
your hearts with his grace and Truth, and daily keep you 
in the savour thereof; that ye may be blessed by him, and 
a blessing in his hands ; all that is evil and contrary to 
Truth, being kept down in your own hearts, ye will be fit 
to keep down evil in the minds and hearts of others ; and, 
if any thing be unsavoury anywhere, it will be searched 
into, judged, cast out, and the recovery of the soul which 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOJS". 263 

hath let it in, sought, that, if possible, it may be restored ; 
and then, ye will know the joy of seeking out and bring- 
ing back the lost sheep. And, be tender to others, in true 
compassion, as ye would be tendered by others, if ye were 
in their conditions. 

There is that near you, which will guide you ; O ! wait 
for it, and be sure ye keep to it ; that, being innocent and 
faithful, in following the Lord in the leadings of his power, 
his power may plead your cause in the hearts of all his 
tender people hereabouts : and they may see and acknowl- 
edge, that your meetings are of God, — that ye are guided 
by him into that way of service, in his holy fear, in which 
he himself is with you, and by the movings of his Holy 
Spirit in your hearts, hath engaged you. Be not hasty, 
either in conceiving any thing in your minds, or in speak- 
ing it forth, or in any thing ye are to do; but, feel him 
by his Spirit and life going along with you, and leading 
you into what he would have any of you, or every one of 
you do. If ye be in the true feeling sense of what the 
Lord your God would have done, and join with what is of 
God, as it riseth in any, or against any thing that is not 
of God, as it is made manifest among you ; ye are all in 
your places and proper services, obeying the blessed will, 
and doing the blessed work, of the Lord your God. 

I had somewhat upon me yesterday to you, but my 
weakness was great. This morning, this lay as a weight 
upon my spirit to lay upon yours ; may the weight of it 
come upon you, to weigh down whatever is light or chaffy 
in any of you, that the seed of life may come up over it, 
and ye may be weighty before the Lord, in the weighty 
seed of life. The Lord make you rightly serviceable to 
him, and truly glorious in your meetings, and in your 
several places. Ye will find a great work to keep one 
part down, that that which is pure and living of God may 



264 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 

come up in you, and ye act only in it, not exceeding the 
limits of it. I. P. 

Written at John Hawford's, 
7tli of Seventh Month, 1678. 



I 



LETTEK C. 

An Expostulation and Warning. 
To THE Eael of Beidgewater.^ 

Friend, — It is the desire of my heart to walk with 
God, in the true fear of his name, and in true love and 
good will to all men, all my days here upon the earth. 
For this end, I wait upon God night and day, to know his 
wdll, and to receive certain instruction from him, concern- 
ing what is acceptable in his sight. After he hath in any 
thing made manifest his pleasure, I wait upon him for 
strength to perform it ; and when he hath wrought it by 
me, my soul blesseth him therefore. If this be a right 
course, I am not to be condemned herein : if it be not, and 
thou knowest better, show me, in love, meekness, and ten- 
derness ; as I would be willing to make any thing known 
to thee, for thy good, which the Lord hath shown me. 

But, this I am fully assured of, that God is higher than 
man : and that his will and laws are to be set up, and 
obeyed, in the first place ; and man's only in the second ; 
and, in their due subordination to the will and laws of 
God. 

Now, Friend, apply thyself to do that which is right 
and noble, and that which is truly justifiable in God's 
sight ; that thou mayest give a comfortable account to 
him, when he shall call thereunto. That which thou hast 

*See the Life of Isaac Penington, hy J. G. Bevan. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINaTON. 265 

done to me, hath not made me thy enemy ; but, in the 
midst of the sense of it, I desire thy welfare, and that thou 
may est so carry thyself in thy place, and actions, as that 
thou mayest neither provoke God against thee in this 
world, nor in the world to come. Hast thou not yet 
afflicted me enough, without cause ? Wouldst thou have 
me bow to thee therein, wherein the Lord hath not given 
me liberty? If I should give thee outward titles and 
honours, might I not do thee hurt ? O come down, be low 
in thy spirit before the Lord ! honour him in thy heart 
and ways, and wait for the true nobility and honour from 
him. Thou hast but a time to be in the world, and then 
eternity begins ; and what thou hast sown here, thou must 
then reap. O that thou mightst sow, not to thy own will 
and wisdom, but to God's Spirit ; and know his guidance, 
who is only able to lead man aright. Indeed, thou 
shouldst be subject in thy own heart to that, which thou 
art offended at in others, — even that in the inner parts, 
which testifies for God and against the thoughts, ways, and 
works of corrupt man; that thou mightst feel a principle 
of life from God, and good fruit brought forth from that 
principle to him ; and that the evil nature, and the evil 
works thereof, might be cut down in thee ; that thy soul 
may escape the wrath and misery, which attends the works 
and workers of iniquity. 

I have sent thee this enclosed, in love. Read it in fear 
and humility, lifting up thy heart to the Lord, who giveth 
understanding, that it may be a blessing to thee ; for, in 
true love was it written, and is of a healing and guiding 
nature. I have formerly written to thee ; but my way 
hath been so barred up, that I have not found access easy ; 
and how or whether this will come to thy hand, I know 
not ; but, this I truly say to thee, I have felt the Lamb's 
nature, under my sufferings from thee, whereunto I have 
given thee no pi-o vocation, neither for the beginning nor 
23 



266 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

continuance of them ; and if thou canst, bring that thing 
to the trial of the witness of God in thy heart, that will 
deal truly with thee, blaming what God blames, and justi- 
fying what he justifieth. And, though the Lord behold- 
eth, and will plead the cause of his innocent ones, (who 
the more helpless they are, the more they are considered 
and tendered by him,) yet, I do not desire that thou 
shouldst suffer, either from God or man, on my account; 
but, that thou mightst be guided to, and preserved in, that 
which will be sweet rest, peace, and safety, to all that are 
sheltered by it, in the troublous and stormy hour; in which, 
the Lord will distress man, and make him feel his sin and 
misery. 

This is the sum of what I have at present to say ; who 
have written this, not for any by-end, but, in the stirrings 
of true love towards thee ; and from a true desire, that 
thou mightst feel the power of God forming in thy heart 
aright and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in 
thee ; — that thou mightst be made by him of the seed of 
the blessed, and inherit the blessing, and find the earthly 
nature consumed, and brought to naught in thee. For, to 
[this nature] is the curse, and it must feel the curse, as 
God brings forth his righteous judgments in the hearts, 
and upon the heads of the transgressors. And, knowing 
there is a certain day of God's calling transgressors to 
account, also the terribleness of his wrath and consuming 
pleasure in that day, — I warn thee in tenderness, and in 
love beseech thee, to consider thy ways, and make thy 
peace with him; that thou mayest not be irrecoverably 
and eternally miserable ; but, mayest be transformed by 
his life and nature, and sow to him the fruits thereof, that 
thou mayest reap, and receive of him that which is the 
soul's joy. 

And, Friend, know this assured truth, — it is not a re- 
ligion of man's making or choosing, (neither the Pope's 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PEISTINGTOIS'. 267 

nor an J other man's,) but only that which is of God, which 
is acceptable to Him : and, what will become of that man, 
whose very religion and worship is hateful to God ? Where 
will he stand, or what account will he be able to give, 
when he appears before him ? 

Thou hast not often met with such plain dealing as this. 
These things very nearly concern thee. O! w^ait upon 
God for his true light, that thou mayest not be deceived 
about them ; because thy loss thereby, will be so great and 
irreparable. 

I am thy Friend in these things, and have written as a 
tine lover and desirer of the welfare of thy soul. 

LP. 

From Aylesbury Gaol, 
24th of Sixth Month, 1666. 



LETTER CL 

Faithful dealing between Brethren Eecommended. 

Dear Friend, — I have heard that thou hast somewhat 
against W. R., whereupon thou forbearest coming to meet- 
ings at his house : this thou oughtst seriously to weigh and 
consider ; that thy path and walking herein, may be right 
and straight before the Lord. Is the thing, or are the 
things, which thou hast against him, fully so, as thou ap- 
prehendest ? Hast thou seen evil in him, or to break forth 
from him ? and hast thou considered him therein, and dealt 
with him, as if it had been thy own case? Hast thou 
pitied him, mourned over him, cried to the Lord for him, 
and in tender love and meekness of spirit, laid tlie thing 
before him ? And, if he hath refused to hear thee, hast 
thou tenderly mentioned it to others, and desired them to 



268 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 

go with thee to him ? that, what is evil and offensive in 
him, might be more weightily, and advantageously laid 
before him, for his humbling, and for his recovery unto 
that, which is a witness and strength against ;the evil. If 
thou hast proceeded thus, thou hast proceeded tenderly 
and orderly, according to the law of brotherly love ; and 
God's witness in thy conscience will justify thee therein. 
But, if thou hast let in any hardness of spirit, or hard 
reasonings against him, or hard resolutions as relating to 
him, the witness of God will not justify thee in that. 

And if, at any time hereafter, thou hast anything against 
others, learn, from that of God in thee, to show com- 
passion towards them, even as the Lord has had pity on 
thee I And keep to his witness in thy heart. Wait to feel 
the seed, and to keep thy dwelling therein, that thou 
mayest abide in the peace and rest thereof, and not depart 
out of thy habitation, out of the sense of Truth; for, that 
will let in temptation upon thee, give the enemy strength 
against thee, and fill thy soul with anguish and perplexity. 

So, the Lord God of infinite tenderness renew his mercy 
upon thee, and keep thee in that, wherein his love, life, 
rest, joy, peace, and unspeakable comfort of his Holy 
Spirit, (which keeps the mind out of all the snares and 
temptations of that which is unholy,) is felt and witnessed, 
— by those, who are taught aiid enabled of him, to abide 
and dwell in that, into which he gathered them, — and in 
which he hath pleased to appear unto them. 

This is, in the love and tender goodness of the Lord to 
thee, from thy Friend in the Truth, and for the Truth's 
sake. ^ I. P. 

13th of Tenth Month, 1667. 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOJST. 269 

LETTER CII. 

On Dwelling with the Lowly Seed of Life in all Conditions. 
To M. HiOENS. 

Dear Friend, — I received two letters from thee lately, 
whereby the sense is revived in me of thy great love to 
me, and the Lord's great goodness to thee, in administer- 
ing that which rejoiceth and refresheth thee. 

Now, this advice ariseth in my heart. O ! keep cool 
and low before the Lord, that the seed, the pure, living 
seed, may spring more and more in thee, and thy heart be 
united more and more to the Lord therein. Coolness of 
spirit is a precious frame ; and the glory of the Lord most 
shines therein, — in its own lustre and brightness; and, 
when the soul is low before the Lord, it is still near the 
seed, and preciously (in its life) one with the seed. And, 
when the seed riseth, thou shalt have liberty in the Lord 
to rise with it ; only, take heed of that part, which will be 
outrunning it, and getting above it, and so, not ready to 
descend again, and keep low in the deeps with it. 

O my Friend ! I have a sense, that this hath been the 
error of that people, thou hast formerly walked with : and 
I observe in thy spirit yet a liability thereto ; which the 
Lord give thee to watch against, that thou mayest come 
to a pure observation and discerning of the everlasting, 
unchangeable seed in thy own heart, and mayest daily feel 
thy mind bowed down and worship in it, becoming wholly 
leavened into it, and perfectly changed and preserved 
by it. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

We are here but a while in this world, for the Lord to 
make use of us, and serve himself by us ; and so, by his 
23* 



270 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

ordering of us, to fit us for the crown of glory, which he 
will give us fully to wear in the other world. Now, feel 
the child's nature, which chooseth nothing, but desires the 
fulfilling of the Father's will in it. I cannot desire to 
enjoy any thing, (saith the nature of the true birth,) but 
as the Father, of himself, pleaseth to give me to enjoy. 
There is a time to want, as well as to abound, while we 
are in this world. And the times of wanting, as well as 
abounding, are greatly advantageous to us. How should 
faith, love, patience, meekness, and the excellency and 
sufficiency of God's grace shine, but by, in, and through 
the many exercises and varieties of conditions, wherewith 
the Lord visiteth his ? Yea, the greatest in the life, power, 
and glory of the Lord, have the greatest trials and exer- 
cises, which is to their advantage, as also for the good and 
benefit of others, and to the great honour and glory of the 
Lord. O*! at all times, and in all conditions, take heed 
of a will, take heed of a wisdom, above the seed's will, 
and above the seed's wisdom. 

Let the Lord alone be all in thee, and make thee every 
day what he pleaseth ; and, in due time, thou shalt know 
a life, — even the seed's life, the Son's life, — whom all the 
angels are to worship, — and the mystery of whose life, the 
angels desire to look into, as it is revealed and brought 
forth ! So, be still and quiet, and silent before the Lord ; 
not putting up any request to the Father, nor cherishing 
any desire in thee, but in the seed's lowly nature and 
purely springing life ; and the Lord give thee the clear 
discerning, in the lowly seed, of all that springs and arises 
in thy heart. 

Thou didst read precious things of the seed, when thou 
wast here, written outwardly ; O that thou mightst read 
the same things, written inwardly in thy own heart ; which 
that thou mayest do, become as a weaned child, not exer- 
cising thyself in things, too high or too wonderful for 



LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 271 

thee. Every secret thing, every spiritual mystery, but 
what God opens to thee, is too high and wonderful for 
thee. And, if the Lord at any time open to thee deep 
mysteries ; fear before the Lord ; and go no further into 
them, than the Lord leads thee. The error is, still, in the 
comprehending, knowing mind, but never in the lowly, 
weighty seed of life ; — whither the Lord God of my life 
more and more lead thee, and counsel thee to take up thy 
dwelling-place there, daily instructing thee so to do. For 
the greatest, as well as the least, must be daily taught of 
the Lord, both in ascending and descending, or they will 
miss their way ; yea, they must be daily taught of him to 
be silent before him, and know [what it is] to be still in 
him, or they will be apt to miss in either. 

This from thy Friend, L P. 

Amersham, Woodside, 
4th of Fifth Month, 1679. 



LETTER GUI. 

On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers* 
To HIS Brother. 

Dear Brother, — This morning, as I was going out 
to walk, somewhat sprang up in my heart freshly and 
livingly to thee; whereupon, I consulted not, but im- 
mediately turned back so to do. Now, if the Lord make 
it useful to thee, thou wilt have cause to bless his name ; 
and so shall I also, who heartily desire the life and welfare 
of thy soul in the living God, and thy avoiding all such 
snares as the enemy lays to betray, and to keep it in death 
and bondage. The thing that rose up in me, was this. . 

God gave some apostles, some prophets, &c., for the 



272 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

work of the ministry, for the building up of the body, for 
the perfecting of the saints. This was God's gift, in mercy 
and love, to them in that day, of which gift they were to 
walk worthy, and to be thankful for it. 

And, in these days, the Lord hath given gifts to some 
for this work, which the body hath need of; and the body 
is to wait on the Lord in the use of his gift, in fear and 
humility. For, those that gather the soul to the Lord, 
they also are appointed to watch over the soul, in the 
same power and authority that gathered. Now, that which 
is of God in any heart, being heeded, will teach to make 
use of the gift and ministry which is of Him ; and it can- 
not be despised, but God is despised ; nor can it be neg- 
lected, without loss and danger to the soul that neglects 
it. For God is wise, and his ordinances, his ministry, his 
gifts are weighty, and his blessings go along with them. 
Who have been gathered to him in these days, but by his 
ministry which he hath appointed and sent to gather ? and 
who have been preserved, but those who have waited on 
the Lord, and been subject to his Spirit in the same minis- 
try which hath gathered ? Mark, Brother, in every age, 
God's ministers have been despised. Moses and all the 
prophets were despised in their day. What! [said the 
despisers,] hath God spoken only by Moses ? hath he not 
spoken also by ^s ? The apostles were despised in their 
days, by those that kept not to the anointing ; for this 
always teacheth to reverence, in subjection to the Lord, 
the ministry which is of the anointing. " He that de- 
spiseth you," said Christ, " despiseth me." He that de- 
spiseth them in their gathering, or in their building up, 
despiseth Him that sent them. They were earthen ves- 
sels, in presence contemptible, and very liable to be de- 
spised. It is easy still, to despise God's messengers and 
servants ; but, he that will truly and rightly esteem them, 
must lie low, must dwell in the pure fear, and in the sense 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 273 

of life, that he may be taught of God so to do. It is an 
easy -matter to have objections enough against them ; but, 
to see through all prejudices and objections, to the pure 
and precious life in them, and to the gift and spirit and 
power of the Lord, wherein and whereby they minister, — 
this requires a true eye, and an heart opened by the Lord. 

Ah Brother ! this is a snare, wherein many have been 
caught in former ages, and in this age also, — which it is 
easy falling into, — but the preservation out of it, is not 
easy, but only by the power and mercy of the Lord. And 
blessed are those, whom the Lord so favours as to preserve 
out of it, and to remove from them those prejudices and 
devices, whereby they are entangled. Dear Brother ! when 
I am in the pure sense before the Lord, and my spirit 
opened by him, and thou presented before me ; I could 
even beg most earnestly of the Lord, that he would open 
thy eye, and give thee a true sight of thy state, and cause 
thy spirit to bow before him ; and to know and honour 
what is of him, and not, by any device of the enemy, be 
hindered from receiving therefrom, what he, in tender 
love and mercy, holds out to thee. 

And, dear Brother, mind this advice which just springs 
in my heart : pick out some of the faithful ones of the 
Lord's servants, and open thy heart to them, as, in the 
leadings of the Lord and waiting upon him, thou findest 
freedom thereunto. Indeed, Brother, I have had, for a 
long time, a deep sense of danger towards thee : the Lord 
prevent it, that thy soul may live to him, and not die from 
him ! There is a wisdom, a will near thee, which will de- 
stroy thee, unless the Lord destroy it in thee. 

O that thou mightst come to wait aright for the motion 
of his Spirit! and mightst be kept by him in that which 
knows the drawing ; then wilt thou hunger and thirst after 
the righteousness of his kingdom, and long after times of 
meeting and assembling with his people; and find thy 

S 



274 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

sense of tliera living, and thy life refreshed therein. For, 
God is with his people, of a truth, and they meet not with- 
out him ; but, his jDresence is in the midst of them, causing 
his life to flow into every vessel, that stands open to him. 
And, death has not come over his people, whatever the 
enemy suggests, where he gets an ear open ; but, life grows 
more and more in freshness and into dominion in them. 
O Brother ! the Lord fully gather thee into and preserve 
thee in that, wherein thou mayest feel this in thy own par- 
ticular, — wherein thou mayest feel the freshness of life, 
and the power thereof in iheni ; that thy heart, also, may 
be as a watered garden, and as a living temple, wherein 
the pure, living God dwells ! 

I am satisfied in my heart, that not only my love, but 
my life speaks to thee. O that thou couldst hear, and feel, 
and fear, and bow down before the Lord ! that he might, 
in his due season, raise thee up in his life and power among 
his people, purifying thee, and preserving thee pure and 
living to him forever. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

Dear Brother, — The desire of my heart to the Lord 
for thee is, that he would open and keep open in thee the 
eye which sees, and the ear which hears, and the heart 
which understands his truth ; and that he would prevent 
the enemy from raising up another thing in thee, instead 
of the seed of life and holy witness. 

Great hath been the subtlety, and deep hath been the 
error from the Truth ; and many who seem to be Jews 
are not, but have erred from the Spirit, life, and power, 
wherewith they were at first convinced, and whereby they 
were at first led. And, in these, the enemy hath raised 
up a seat of prejudices, and strong holds, against the 
ministry and power of the living God; but, those that 



LETTERS OF ISAAC PENHSTGTON". 275 

are of the right seed, bless the Lord, beholding his work, 
while others slight it, and are expecting somewhat else ; 
they bless also the church which the Lord hath built, 
and the nftnistry which he hath sent forth to gather and 
build it. 

O Brother ! there is an high-mindedness in some which 
takes upon it to judge beyond its growth and capacity ; 
and there is a fear in the hearts of others, lest any thing 
in them should get up, or judge, or be any thing, beyond 
or beside the pure Truth ; — this teacheth to honour and 
prefer those, whom the Lord hath preferred, the other hath 
accusations and pleas against them ; the one of these wit- 
' nesseth preservation from God, the other is left to fall. 
Dear Brother, believe a traveller in the path of life, — 
(the Lord God raise up in thee that which can believe,) — 
the enemy with great subtlety hath laid his snares, — hath 
taken many in his snares, — even in the snares which he 

laid by his instrument, J P — — ; and many did let 

in his spirit before they were aware, and are at this day 
(unknown to their own hearts) entangled therein. The 
Lord God will terribly appear against such, (indeed, it is 
truth,) unless they bow to his light, acknowledge their 
error from the Truth, and come back to the body by 
repentance, and turning from that, wherein this spirit 
hath entangled them. 

Dear Brother, it is my desire that thou mayest not per- 
ish, but feel the carrying on of the work of salvation in 
thee ; travel on in the pure, holy, living, powerful path, 
and receive the crown of fidelity to the Truth ! Ah 
Brother ! mourn to the Lord ; fear before him ; converse 
and consult with those that abide faithful ; and they may 
help thee to see, (through the guidance, presence, and 
power of the Spirit of the Lord with them,) what of thy- 
self, thou art not able to see. Remember this counsel ; 
thy life is wrapped up in it ; for thou hast need of the 



276 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 

helps, which the Lord in his tender mercy hath provided, 
and canst not be safe without them. 

Thy dear Brother, in the unity of nature, longing after 
perfect sense of thee, and unity with thee, ill the pure 
life. I. P. 

Aylesbury Gaol, 
7th of Eighth Month, 1667. 



LETTER CIV. 

Of the Church and Ministry. 



1^ Eeply to an Ais^swer of I. H. to Somewhat Writ- 
TEX ON Behalf of Truth. 

Indeed, to speak properly, the church of the 



gospel, or new testament church, is invisible. The per- 
sons in whom the church is, are visible ; yet, the new tes- 
tament church is not a society of men, but rather, of the 
invisible life in men. It is a fellowship in the faith, in 
the spirit, which is the bond of their unity and of their 
peace. 

The life is breathed invisibly into the hidden man. 
John iii. 8 ; it is there nourished and built up invisibly 
into a spiritual invisible temple, house, or church, and in 
that is the unity and fellowship. So that, the church is a 
mystery, and the fellowship a mystery, which is hid from 
every eye but the eye of life ; and there is no having fel- 
lowship one with another, but by coming to that, and 
keeping in that, wherein is the fellowship. 1 John, i. 7. 
It is of inward Jews the church is built ; it is of such God 
seeks to frame his new house of worship, under the gospel. 
John, iv. 23. Now, of such stones as these, the Lord 
builds up a temple for his Spirit to dwell in, a hoiuse for 



LETTERS OF ISAAC pe:n-ingto:n'* 277 

his life and presence to manifest itself in, — even a cliurcli 
for the living God. This building is by the Spirit, in the 
Spirit, and of that which is spiritual ; this building is one 
with the foundation, and therefore is the pillar and ground 
of Truth, which none is but "Christ, and that which is 
married to him, and so one with him. 1 Tim. iii. 15. Con- 
sider the place well, and see whether it relate to that, 
which thou callest the invisible, or to that, which thou 
callest the visible church. 

It is the candlestick in persons, that is the church ; not 
any outward meeting of persons, or joining together by 
covenant, or receiving or practising of ordinances, can 
make a church ; but, the eternal life in believers, formed 
by the Spirit into a candlestick, to hold the eternal lamp 
or light, with the everlasting oil of salvation. The light 
thus shining in this candlestick, continually refreshed by 
this oil, — here is a flourishing temple, wherever it is 
found ; here is the church of the living God, here is the 
spouse married to the Lamb, her Husband. But, grieve 
the Spirit, quench the Spirit, despise the prophesyings 
thereof, (and light up a candle of the fleshly wisdom and 
knowledge of the things of God, instead of these,) the oil 
soon fails ; the oil failing, the lamp goes out ; the lamp, 
or light being gone out of the candlestick, the Lord soon 
removes the candlestick ; and the candlestick being once 
removed, the very same persons may meet together often, 
and hold up the form, (performing things mentioned in 
the Scriptures concerning a church, and observing such 
things as they may call the institutions and ordinances 
thereof,) — but they are far from continuing to be a 
church. Take away the faith, what is left of a Christian? 
and take away the candlestick, what is left of a church ? 

It is the Spirit alone that can square stones, and fit 
them for building a church of; and He alone can build 
them up into a house, when he hath squared them. Eph. 
24 



278 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 

ii. 22. And, after he hath built, He can pull down again, 
and bring into a wilderness state ; for, there is a wilder- 
ness state of Christianity, as well as a built state. Rev. xii. 
6 ; and as, in the built state, it is dangerous to be out of 
the church, so, in the wilderness state, it is dangerous 
remaining in that building, which the Spirit of the Lord 
hath forsaken. Now, if the Spirit be the builder, then, 
surely, he will take in no stones, but such as he hath first 
squared and fitted for the building. And, after the church 
is built, it is he alone who addeth to the church ; who will 
be sure to add none, but those whom he hath first con- 
verted. Acts, ii. 47. 

The church is a body gathered in the Spirit, and watch- 
ing to the Spirit; who is present there with His pure, 
searching, discerning eyes ; so that, nothing that is impure 
can enter, (they watching to the Spirit, according to the 
order of the gospel ;) no, not one counterfeit Jew, no, nor 
so much as one false apostle, though they clothe them- 
selves ever so like 'angels of light. Rev. xxii. But if 
they be negligent, and from ofi* the watch, not waiting for 
the guidance of the Spirit ; then, that which is corrupt 
may creep in, and endanger the body. Jude, 4. 



A'N ACCOUNT OF LADY COI^WAT. 

^Forming a Supplementary Note to Page 195 of this Volume.] 



THE preceding sheets were nearly printed off, when, through 
the kindness of a friend, the editor at length obtained a 
sight of a small work, in which some account is preserved of 
the Lady Viscountess Conway. It is entitled, '^The Life of 
the learned and pious Dr. Henry More, late Fellow of Christ's 
College, Cambridge; &c., by Eichard Ward, A. M. — London, 
1710." 

This excellent lady appears to have been at one time a pupil 
of the above named Henry More, and between them there sub- 
sisted from first to last a great degree of friendship and esteem. 
While the circumstance of her having attached herself to the 
Society of Friends, would render some mention of her charac- 
ter highly interesting to that class of readers ; it was thought, 
on the other hand, that the high standing of her encomiast, as 
a member of the Established Church, and his public opposition 
to the religious principles of the Friends,^ would not fail to 
add weight to his testimony in her favour. Much allowance 
must, however, be made on this latter account, for tl>e imper- 
fect exhibition of this lady's views and motives, in the humil- 
iating preference, which she gave to " Quakerism.'' With this 
proviso, a faithful abstract shall be given of the particulars re- 
corded of her by Henry More and his biographers. 

She was sister to " Sir John Finch," some time Ambassador 
from the English Court to that of the Ottoman Empire. Her 
understanding was singularly quick and apprehensive, her 
judgment sound and solid, and her sagacity and prudence in 
affairs of moment, were such as surprised all those, who had 
occasion to consult with her. Her friend, Henry More, would 

* See several of his publications. 

279 



280 AX Arroryj of lady coxwat. 

say of her, that he scarcely ever met with any person, man or 
woman, of better natural endowments. With r^ard to the 
caltivation of these extensire powers^ we are told, she was mis- 
tress of the highest theories, whether of philosophy or religion; 
having the greatest facility for physical, metaphysical, and 
mathematical speculations ; and was qualified to search into, 
and jadicicnsly sifk the most abstrose writeis of theolo^. In 
the company of others, she nerer, npon the barest occasion, 
made the slightest display of her superior ability or acquire- 
ments ; nor did it appear, that she indulged in these studies 
out of any ranity of mind or fond curiosity ; such pursuits 
seeming to be as the genuine food of her natural genius, not- 
withstanding the distressing impediment, under which they 
were usually engaged in. For she had the affliction to be ex- 
ercised, &om her Tery youth, with extreme and continued 
pains in her head, which at length extended OTcr her whole 
firame, and, at times^ accompanied with such serere paroxysms, 
as might n^ly be said to be insupportable. In hope of relief 
or recovery &om this malady, she submitted to many very 
painful remedies ; and, having tried the medical skill which 
this country at that time a^rded, she went to France for the 
same purpose; but^ without receiving any beiefit or allevia- 
tion. 

There was nothing in the character of this ^incomparable 
Lady,'^ (as Henry More was ac^i^omed to call her,) which so 
called forth the admiration of the serious, among those who 
had known her from her youth, as this, — tiiat she had such a 
timely sense and high relish of that, which is infinitely beyond 
all other attainments^ — even, the saving knowledge of '^ Christ 
(that is, of his power, life, and Spirit) in us, the hope of glory." 
It was by virtue of tkis^ as her learned friend justly remarks, — 
in comparison of which, she esteemed all tilings else but as loss, 
that she was endued with such marveUons patience, composure 
and fortitude, to bear the constant, tedious, as well as ntore 
agonizing conflicts of the flesh. And, it seemed to him to be 
not without providential wisdom, that all means of mitigation 
proved so ineffectual ; in order that this glorious power of God, 
in its operation on an obedient soul, might the more fully 
appear. Thus it was, that, in a dose pursuit after Tnith and 



AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 281 

knowledge, tlie Christian graces so eminently slione forth in 
her, as even to obscure the lustre of other accomplishments, at 
least, with those who could behold and appreciate them. 

Something of the pious resignation of her spirit is discovered 
in the following expressions, which occur in a letter. " From 
the redoubling of my afflictions, the continuedness of my grea't 
pains, increase of weakness, with new additional distempers, I 
might fancy my release not far off, from those weighty suffer- 
ings I have groaned under so many years. But, life and death 
are in the hands of the Almighty; and what he designs for me, 
I desire I may be enabled to give myself up to willingly, with- 
out murmuring; who only knows, what measure of suffering 
is most necessary for me." Her mind was not so fastened 
down to her own personal concernments or situation, as to 
render her conversation ungrateful to others; but meekness, 
disinterestedness, uniform kindness to all around, condescen- 
sion and forbearance towards the failings of others, together 
with a provident solicitude on behalf of relations and friends, 
continued to be the frame of her mind up to the very close. 
And though her pains of body increased, the clearness of hei 
intellect was not in any wise impaired, nor the tranquillity of 
her soul molested ; for, at the last, she went off as one asleep, 
drawing her breath shorter and shorter, and thus yielding up 
her spirit to God, who gave it, and had redeemed it to himself 
through much tribulation. 

One of her earliest friends, on being made acquainted with 
the manner of her departure, made this remark : '* I perceive, 
and bless God for it, that my Lady Conway was my Lady Con- 
way to her last breath; the greatest example of patience and 
presence of mind, in highest extremities of pain and affliction, 
that we shall easily meet with : scarce any thing to be found 
like her, since the primitive times of the church.'' 

Several of Henry More's learned treatises were composed at 
Eagley Hall, the family seat, and expressly at the desire of the 
Lady Conway ; and, in an Epistle Dedicatory to his ^'Antidote 
to Atheism," he gives a great character of her. After her de- 
cease, it was designed, that something of her own experience 
should have been printed, 'by way of Kemains or Pious Frag- 
ments ; and, with this view, her valued friend essayed an 
24* 



'II 



282 AX ACCOUNT OF LADY COXWAY. 

account of her, by way of preface, from wliich, some parts of 
the present brief memorial are taken. This document winds 
up with the succeeding reflection. 

^' These things, which I have communicated to thee, concern- 
ing our friend, this excellent Lady, I have not done out of any 
partial or carnal boastings; but, that God may be glorified, 
and that thou may est the more fully understand, that that 
religion, which availeth any thing in the time of distress, is 
not opinion, ceremony, talk, or fancy ; but the power of God 
in the inward man, in virtue of the new birth, or real regener- 
ation ; which is the true and saving knowledge of Christ in us, 
the hope of glory. Which mystery, she being acquainted with 
from her youth, and growing up therein, it made her such an 
invincible champion, and enabled her to bear up with that 
stoutness and constancy, either against the buffetings of Satan, 
or sad incumbrances of afflictive nature; in which, by the 
divine power in the new birth, she hath proved herself more 
than conqueror/' 

It does not apjDear at what period she began to attach her- 
self to the Society of Friends, nor at what time she expressed 
the following sentiments connected with that subject, in a 
letter to Henry More. " Y'our conversation with them [the 
Friends] at London, might be, as you express it, charitably 
intended, like that of a physician frequenting his patients, for 
the increase or confirmation of their health; but, /must pro- 
fess, that my converse with them is, to receive health and re- 
freshment from them." And, towards the close of the same 
letter, she further adds, " I pray God, give us all a clear dis- 
cerning between melancholy, enthusiasm, and true inspiration ; 
that we may not be imposed upon, to believe a lie. The great 
difference of opinion in this point, amongst the learned and 
experienced, occasions much perplexity in minds less ex- 
ercised, and thus not so well fitted for judging.'' Her learned 
friend said of her, that she wotild not give up her judgment 
entirely unto any ; which makes it the more remarkable, that 
she should have cherished such a leaning towards this people, 
as she is known to have done. He attributed this change to 
the height of her virtue, and said, "It was the greatness of her 
mind which betrayed her to it ; who, looking upon some pre- 



AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 283 

tensions of the Quakers to be very excellent, all the external 
considerations of her quality and of the world, availed nothing 
with her, for the hindering of those regards which she showed 
towards them." She preferred such servants as were of this 
persuasion, because of their seriousness and quietness, which 
indeed were qualifications very desirable in her tried state. 
Hence the inference was drawn, that the melancholy circum- 
stances, under which she so long laboured, gradually inclined 
her towards Friends and their opinions. This, however, is 
clear; she chose the company of some of the best and most 
eminent among them, as Eobert Barclay, William Penn, &c. : 
her physician, also. Baron Van Helmont, who liyed long in 
her family, is said to have been " a frequenter of the Quakers' 
Meetings.'' She acknowledged, she was never in love with 
the name of a Quaker, nor with their rusticity ; but regarded 
only their principles and practices, so far as they were good 
and Christian. In the same letter, she particularly takes 
notice of the pressures and sufferings they had lain under, and 
that she was much refreshed by the accounts of their trials 
and consolations ; and that they were fitted, from the various 
and heavy exercises they had themselves experienced, and 
their supports under them, to administer comfort to others in 
great distress. • 

Henry More was much affected with the change wrought in 
the Countess, so that, at length, he received the account with 
tears; and laboured all that a faithful friend could do, to set 
her, as he thought, right, with regard to her judgment in these 
matters. But, when he saw, that he could ncft sufficiently pre- 
vail, he desisted ; and thought fit to leave that great person to 
enjoy, in her extremities, the company and the ways she most 
approved. How far her peace of mind was concerned, with 
regard to the humiliating path she must often have had to 
tread, while espousing a cause so misrepresented and despised, 
as that of the Society of Friends then was — how far she was 
satisfied in the course she adopted, may be fairly estimated 
from the sincerity and piety of her character through life, and 
from the consolation and support she was favoured with in 
death. 

THE END. 



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